Polling for 34 Assembly seats across five districts in the seventh and penultimate phase of elections in West Bengal on Monday was peaceful.
The polling percentage till 5 p.m. — one hour before closure — was 75.06% and the four seats in Kolkata South recorded the lowest (about 59.91%). About 81 lakh voters were eligible to choose from 268 candidates. Polling was also held for nine seats in Paschim Bardhaman and Murshidabad districts, six in Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda districts and four in Kolkata.
Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab said the polling was peaceful. Addl. DGP, Law and Order, Jagmohan, said polling was the most peaceful of all the seven phases. “There was no incident of hurling of crude bomb in this phase even as sensitive regions like Malda and Murshidabad went to the polls. 57 crude bombs have been recovered — 22 from Murshidabad and 35 from Kolkata,” he said.
During the day, 11 persons were arrested for violating prohibitory orders and 12 in specific cases. About 742 persons were taken into preventive custody. There were a few incidents of altercations between the candidates of the Trinamool Congress and the personnel of the Central armed police forces both in Kolkata and the districts. These altercations were in connection with allowing the candidates in polling booths or not.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cast her vote at a polling booth in Mitra Institution located under the Bhawanipur Assembly constituency. Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee , however, could not because of his ailing health.
Monday was the last day of campaigning for the eighth and final phase for 35 seats in Malda (6), Murshidabad and Birbhum (11 each) and Kolkata (7). Ms. Banerjee and BJP president J.P. Nadda were among those who campaigned in the day.
Polling will be held on Thursday.
Mr. Aftab said all COVID-19 protocols will be followed during counting on May 2. He said a meeting will be held with district Magistrates on Tuesday in this regard.