Around 18% polling till 9am in West Bengal

Around 18 per cent of polling was recorded till 9:00 am for the second phase of the Lok Sabha election in West Bengal today, state Joint Chief Electoral Officer N K Sahana said.About 100 EVMs had to be replaced owing to technical snags, though before the polling began, Sahana said.   

At trouble-torn Nandigram under Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency, polling was on under heavy security. Adjoining Khejury under Kanthi constituency, a CPI-M stronghold, also witnessed a peaceful polling.Long queues were witnessed in front of most of the booths as para-military personnel, perched on armoured vehicles, kept a strict vigil.

"Everything is going on peacefully, except for some initial delay at Boga following a complaint about the EVM by a Trinamool Congress polling agent," CPI(M) zonal committee leader Himangshu Das said.  

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress candidate, actor Tapas Pal, contesting from Krishnagar Lok Sabha constituency was cautioned by Nadia district magistrate O S Meena not to engage in handshakes or talks with voters in booths after rival political parties complained to him in this regard.