rigging, it claimed to continue its victory trend following the recent panchayat elections. The CPM was also hopeful of the party doing a U-turn after the panchayat drubbing.

S N Roy Chowdhury, secretary of the State Election Commission, said: “The polls were peaceful. Nearly 85 percent votes were polled. Two Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at Panihati and three at Midnapur developed a snag, which caused some delay there. Panchayat by-elections were also held at block number 2 in Bhangor. Counting of votes will be undertaken on July 2.”

Slamming the CPM for rigging, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said: “The EVMs were programmed by the state government and they have deliberately manipulated these to benefit the CPM. The CPM cadres terrorised the local voters, but we are hopeful of a clean sweep because the people are with us.” She further alleged that state Transport Minister

Subhas Chakrabarti was doing the rounds and intimidating voters in Panihati and Habra municipalities today.

A 50-year-old man died of heart attack, as he stood in the queue to cast his vote in

Chakdah. In Panihati and Badubag, CPM and the Trinamool supporters clashed.

Five persons were injured in Badubag and were admitted to a hospital. A huge contingent of policemen, deployed to control the situation, arrested 30 miscreants.

The Opposition, mainly the Trinamool, is eyeing the municipalities where it made a clean sweep in the rural polls such as Habra and Panihati in North 24 Parganas, Chakdah in Nadia and Dalkhola in North Dinajpur.

By 3 pm, 70 per cent votes were polled in Chakdah, 55 per cent in Dubrajpur in Birbhum, 58 per cent in Midnapore, 95 per cent in Dalkhola and 80 per cent in Haldibari.