Over 78 percent turnout in fifth phase of Bengal polls

Kolkata, April 30 (IANS) Under tight security, over 78 percent of the around 1.24 crore electorate braved the sweltering heat and oppressive humidity to cast their votes for 53 constituencies in the fifth and penultimate phase of the West Bengal assembly polls on Saturday.

Stray incidents of violence were reported, but the opposition parties acknowledged the polling was overall peaceful.

Since 7 a.m., when polling began, large queues of voters were seen outside almost all the booths for 31 constituencies in South 24 Parganas and 18 in Hooghly districts besides four in South Kolkata - covering a region which has for years been a citadel of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The elections continued beyond the scheduled time of 6 pm but the poll panel could only provide the voting figures till 5 p.m.

"Poll percentage till 5 p.m. was 78.25 percent overall. In Hooghly it was 78.98 percent, in Kolkata South, 63.10 percent and in South 24 Parganas, 79.69 percent," said state chief electoral officer Sunil Gupta.

He said two presiding officers - one in Tarakeshawar and another in Arambagh - of Hooghly district were removed for helping voters to cast their votes.

Gupta said altogether 186 people were arrested, of whom 177 were taken into custody under preventive sections, and nine others on specific charges.

A first information report was filed against assembly Deputy Speaker and Trinamool Congress candidate from Satgachia of South 24 Parganas, Sonali Guha after she was caught by TV cameras instructing over phone to "thrash CPI-M agent from a booth".

There were reports of entry of "outsiders" in Kasba while in Haripal of Hooghly district, whilethe CPI-M claimed its agents were prevented from entering or threatened/intimidated in some booths in Khanakul in Hooghly and South 24-Parganas' Canning East.

Clashes between the Trinamool and CPI-M were reported in Arambagh of Hooghly.

Left Front-Congress backed independent nominee Ambikesh Mahapatra alleged voters were being prevented from entering booths and one of his polling agents' family members assaulted by "Trinamool goons" in his constituency Behala East.

There was almost a festive atmosphere in the booths of south Kolkata, with the central police forces keeping a strict watch to ensure free and fair polls.

A clutch of celebrities - actresses Roopa Ganguly, Moon Moon Sen and her daughters Riya and Raima, Rituparna Sengupta, Indrani Haldar, veteran actor Ranjit Mullick, and former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly - expressed their democratic choice. Some of them clicked selfies, and even obliged fans with autographs.

Nearly 1.24 crore voters across 14,642 polling stations, including 77 auxiliary booths, were eligible to decide the fate of 349 candidates -- 43 of them female.

The Trinamool and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are contesting in all the seats in this phase.

The Left Front, which has tied up with the Congress, is in the fray in 37 seats - CPI-M (31), All India Forward Bloc (three), Revolutionary Socialist Party (two) and Communist Party of India (one). The Congress has 14 candidates in the contest, with the alliance supporting Janata Dal (United) and an independent in one seat each.

In the 2011 assembly polls, the Trinamool had captured 46 of these seats. The LF had won only six - CPI-M four, and the RSP and the FB one each. The Socialist Unity Cetre of India-Communist had bagged one.

Among the political big shots who exercised their franchise were Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee and her predecessor and Marxist veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

All eyes were on south Kolkata's Bhabanipur, where Banerjee -- seeking re-election -- is facing a challenge from Left Front-backed Congress nominee Deepa Dasmunshi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose of the BJP.

The ruling Trinamool complained of excesses committed by the central forces, but the opposition parties praised the security personnel and the Election Commission.

Accusing the central security forces of "terrorising" the people, Trinamool vice president Mukul Roy said: "In some places, they even went beyond their mandate."

However, he exuded confidence of his party securing a safe majority with a phase of polling yet to be held.

On the other hand, CPI-M politburo member Mohammed Salim congratulated the EC and the entire election machinery for taking steps to ensure people could exercise their right freely and fairly.

But he pointed out that there were some sporadic incidents like assault on polling agents, booth jamming and voter intimidation, though the people came out and voted despite the Trinamool's "disruptive tactics".

Echoing Salim, Congress leader Abdul Mannan said the polls were overall peaceful, with the central forces and state police personnel thwarting Trinamool's attempts at foul play.

After Saturday's polls, elections have been held in 269 of the 294 constituencies in the state.

The remaining 25 will vote in the sixth and final phase on May 5. The vote count will be held on May 19.