Around 33 pc turnout recorded till 11 AM in Bengal

Kolkata, May 13 , 2024 : An estimated 32.78 per cent of over 1.5 crore electorate exercised their franchise in the first four hours till 11 AM on Monday in the fourth phase election to eight Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. While Bolpur recorded 35.22 per cent polling, Krishnanagar 32.59 per cent, Ranaghat 33.33 per cent, Bardhaman Purba 33.82 per cent, Bardhaman-Durgapur 31.41 per cent, Asansol 29.99 per cent, Birbhum 30.45 per cent and Baharampur 35.53 per cent, according to ECI
sources. While Baharampur recorded the highest percentage, Asansol recorded the lowest till 11 AM. Meanwhile, tension ran high between BJP and TMC supporters in Bolpur Lok Sabha
constituency after a BJP camp near booth nos 186/187 was found ransacked early this morning.
Later local police at Suri arrived and restored the situation. A CPI(M) agent at Baniakhali in Chapra under Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency in Nadia was driven out from the booth for two hrs after being beaten by alleged TMC supporters, but the local CPI(M) leader got him back by the help of Central forces and allowed him to sit. Quick Response Team rushed to restore the situation after voters at No 2 booth under Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seats alleged that the TMC activists prevented them from coming within 200 mt near polling booth. Women of the QRT intervened to let the voters safely go near the booth. Voters alleged that the TMC workers allegedly threatened to face consequences if they go to cast votes. The women voters said the ruling party cannot dictate the electorate. In Krishnanagar CPI(M) candidate S M Sadi alleged the TMC goons threatened the voters against coming to polling booths at Nakashi Para and Chopra. Sadi took the voters to near
polling centres, primarily women, after central forces cleaned the areas of unauthorised
assembly by the alleged ruling party supporters. BJP polling agent was injured after being beaten by alleged TMC supporters at Hasan in Birbhum, which was, however, denied by the ruling party. Local people, especially the women, protested the attack on the BJP agent. Police arrived to restore the situation. An estimated over 1.5 crore electorate, including 71,45,379 women and 282 third genders, spanning over 15,507 polling stations will have to return eight winners from some 75, including 16 female, aspirants seeking their electoral fortune in five districts.
The contest, however, revolves around the candidates of ruling Trinamool Congress, main
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and combined Left-Congress for Baharampur, Ranaghat
(SC), Krishnanagar, Bardhaman Purba, Bardhaman-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur and Birbhum
Lok Sabha seats in five contiguous districts of Central Bengal.
While the TMC and BJP are contesting in all eight seats, the Left in six, and Congress in two
constituencies. In the fourth phase, some 70,641 voters are above 80 many of whom have already cast votes using home voting facilities, State election official said. Among the voters, the new electors are 23,544 people between the ages of 18-19. Of the total booths of 15,507, 3,647 are critical and violence-prone. Women-run polling booths are 791, while five booths are to be handled by specially able poll personnel.