KOLKATA: Bengal wrapped up its fifth phase of polling on Saturday with a marked decline in voter turnout compared to 2016, especially in constituencies on the fringes of Kolkata, and far fewer incidents of violence than in the fourth phase of elections.
The turnout figures till 5pm in the immediate vicinity of Kolkata — Bidhannagar, Rajarhat-New Town, Dum Dum, Baranagar and Barasat — were much lower compared to the 2016 assembly polls. The overall turnout till 5pm was estimated to be 78.3%. The final voter count may yet exceed that of the fourth phase
(79.9%), but is expected to be lower than the average turnout in the first three phases, which was around 85%.
The gap between rural and urban voting widened, with the 23 seats spread across Jalpaiguri, Nadia and East Burdwan recording over 80% polling by 5pm. These three districts accounted for the bulk of the 21 reserved seats that went to polls on Saturday.
Phase 5, during which 45 seats went to polls, was marked by sporadic incidents of violence, but it had little impact on voters. An injury to Kamarhati BJP candidate Raju Banerjee when goons threw stones at his car — and sporadic clashes in Shantinagar, off Kolkata – added to the heat of an election that has seen Trinamool and BJP trade charges throughout.
At Baranagar, actor and BJP candidate Parno Mittra was gheraoed by Trinamool Congress supporters while she was trying to enter booth No 78 of Alambazar.