Amid Sporadic Violence, West Bengal Records 90% Voters’ Turnout In Phase 1; BJP Candidate Chased [Watch]

Kolkata: It was election day in West Bengal, the first of two phases. And the script was all too familiar.

Heavy deployment of central forces, long queues at polling booths and, almost inevitably, violence in several places across districts.

Supporters of Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed in a number of pockets of Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Siliguri and Malda as voting took place in 152 of the 294 Assembly constituencies on Thursday.

Despite the scorching heat in many parts of the state, voter turnout in the first phase of West Bengal was an impressive 89.93% till 5 pm, as per Election Commission of India data. Voting started at 7 am, and the final figures will come in later in the evening.

BJP candidate chased 

Among the relatively serious incidents reported during the day, BJP candidate Subhendu Sarkar was assaulted and chased through fields allegedly by Trinamool workers In South Dinajpur. Sarkar was eventually rescued by police.

In Asansol, BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul’s convoy came under attack. Stones were hurled at her vehicle near booth No. 135 in Rahmat Nagar, shattering the rear windshield, PTI reported.

In Murshidabad, miscreants attacked the car of Rejajinagar candidate Humayun Kabir, who quit Trinamool to form his own party Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP).

Kabir was visiting Murshidabad where a crude bomb was allegedly thrown, injuring several people. Voting was disrupted, causing panic among locals. A scuffle broke out between Kabir’s supporters and TMC workers.

Kabir’s car was allegedly attacked with sticks and bricks.

“The public will give a reply to TMC. TMC’s ‘goondagiri’ will end on 4th May. I was suddenly attacked. At the time when my people gathered to take action, the police lathi-charged them. Additional SP Majeed Khan should be suspended. He is the real criminal and a TMC ‘dalal’,” Kabir alleged.