Kolkata: Braving the sweltering heat, voters turned up in huge numbers as around 81.42 percent polling was recorded in six Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal yesterday, amid stray incidents of violence.
Despite the temperature rising close to 40 degrees Celsius in many areas, people patiently stood in long queues for hours to cast their votes for Jangipur, Murshidabad, Malda North, Malda South, Balurghat and Raiganj seats, an official said.
There were reports of crude bombs being hurled close to a polling booth in Kathalberia under Kaliachak police station of Malda district, with Congress and Trinamool Congress activists blaming each other.
Woman polling officer dies
Thane: A woman returning officer died while on election duty yesterday at a polling station in Thane.
According to an election department official, 35-year-old Vaishali Bhave was on duty at the Khoppat polling station when she complained of chest pain around 1.30pm.
She was rushed to the Thane Civil Hospital where she was declared dead.
Congress seeks FIR against Modi
New Delhi: The Congress yesterday demanded the Election Commission file an FIR against Narendra Modi and the BJP for “violating” the poll code by telecast and publicity of his road show ahead of filing nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi. Demanding that the BJP be de-recognised as a political party, the Congress alleged that the poll panel’s “inaction” on its earlier complaint had provided the BJP with an opportunity “to flout the law”.
IANS
