Mamata Banerjee criticised the Election Commission’s “inaction” on a day voting was marked by two deaths, sporadic violence, complaints of electoral malpractices and a high turnout, while the BJP welcomed the “free and fair” polling.
By 5pm on Thursday, some 80.43 per cent polling had been recorded in the 30 seats spread across four districts that voted in the second phase of the eight-phase Bengal Assembly polls.
“Since voting will continue till 6.30pm, the figure is expected to rise. The turnout is on the higher side; normally 80-82 per cent polling is seen in these areas,” a senior government official said.
Vote day Thursday in East Midnapore’s Nandigram, with Mamata Banerjee pitted against her former aide and now rival from the BJP, Suvendu Adhikari, was marked by many incidents of near-clashes between Trinamul and BJP supporters and allegations of poll malpractices.
On Wednesday, The Telegraph had reported that 22 companies of central forces were deployed and Section 144 imposed to avert any breach of law and order in Nandigram on vote day.
Though there was no bloodshed across 255 booths spread across two blocks in Nandigram, security forces of both state and central governments rushed from one booth to another with complaints pouring in at control rooms set up at the Nandigram BDO office and police station.
Read more about Nandigram poll: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to stay for whole day on Business Standard. Banerjee decided to stay at her war room during the polls in the Nandigram assembly constituency where she is locked in a fierce prestige battle with confidante-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari
She is monitoring the situation in the high-profile constituency where polling began at 7 am as local TMC leaders complained of their election agents not being allowed to enter several booths, according to the party sources.