The Hindu : National : 65 % polling in West Bengal

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65 % polling in West Bengal

Special Correspondent

12 people held; 3 polling officers removed on charges of bid to influence voters

— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

Railway Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee arriving at a polling station in Kolkata to cast her vote.

Kolkata: Barring some minor incidents, the by-elections in 10 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal passed off peacefully.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee cast her vote at a school in the Alipore constituency. Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu now confined to his home, stayed away from the process.

Chief Electoral Officer Debashis Sen said the overall percentage of polling was over 65.

Rajgunj’s distinction

The highest of 75 per cent was recorded at Rajgunj in Jalpaiguri district, North Bengal.

The lowest — 45 per cent — was at Alipore, an elite residential locality in South Kolkata which was vacated by Trinamool Congress legislator Tapas Pal, who had won by a margin of over 1,100 votes. He is now a Trinamool MP in the Lok Sabha.

The CEO said that 12 people were arrested during the day and three polling officers removed on charges of trying to influence voters.

Altogether 45 companies of the Central forces and 75 companies of the State police were deployed for the smooth conduct of polls.

Belgachia East

While nine of the seats fell vacant as the legislators got elected to the Lok Sabha in the May elections. Belgachia East had to go to the polls following the death of the former Transport Minister and senior CPI(M) leader, Subhas Chakraborty.

The CPI(M) fielded candidates in five of the constituencies and CPI nominees are in the fray in two constituencies. Candidates representing the Left Front constituents are contesting in the remaining three. Ramola Chakraborty, is trying to defend her husband’s seat in Belgachia East.

The Trinamool has fielded candidates in most of the seats.

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