More than 85 per cent of voters exercised their franchise on Thursday during the first phase of polling in four Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal which the state Election Commission described as “peaceful, free and fair”.
Polling was held in the LS constituencies of Cooch Behar, Alupurduar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. Five men, three TMC workers and two Gorkha Janamukti Morcha supporters, were arrested for preventing voters from going to polling booths.
Despite allegations by Opposition parties, the special Election Commission observer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh said, “Till now, I have not received any specific complaint but we will look into all and certainly act after receiving reports from presiding officers and observers.” Left Front nominee for Cooch Behar Dipak Roy of Forward Bloc demanded repolling in three Assembly segments in his constituency alleging “rigging by TMC workers”.
In the high profile Darjeeling seat, large number of voters turned out in all the Assembly segments.