79% Polling Recorded In Part Two Of First Phase Of West Bengal Polls

Kolkata: Amid sporadic incidents and scorching heat, 79.56 percent votes were cast on Monday in part two of the first phase of polling in 31 Assembly constituencies spread over three districts in West Bengal.

Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal Sunil Gupta said the voter turnout in West Midnapore district was 84.71 percent, 78.87 percent in Bankura and 75.12 percent in Burdwan. The average came down to 79.56 percent.

Election Commissioner filed an FIR against a candidate in Raniganj for entering a polling booth with her husband. The poll panel will also act against the presiding officials.

Long queues were seen in front of polling booths since early morning as people turned out in large numbers to beat the sweltering heat.

Bankura recorded the highest temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius during the day, which was eight degrees above average, while Asansol and Burdwan recorded 43 degrees Celsius and 42.5 degrees Celsius respectively.

Of the 31 seats that voted today, in 2011 the Trinamool won 18, then ally Congress won three and the Left ten. In 2014 general polls, Trinamool led in 23 segments, the BJP in six and the left in two. The Congress drew a blank. These 31 seats that went to the polls today could be the key to the final result due on May 19.

The 2016 West Bengal Assembly Elections will decide who gets the 294 seats of the Vidhan Sabha in the state. The first part of the first phase took place on April 4. The other phases will be held on April 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5.