Peaceful polling in Kharba assembly by-polls

Kolkata, April 12 Around 75 percent voters took part in the Kharba Assembly by-elections that took place on Saturday. The turnout this time was less, as in the previous elections the constituency had witnessed 84 per cent voting. The polling was largely peaceful and reports of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported from three of the 201 polling booths.

Voters at Sheetalpur Karigari para boycotted the polls alleging that no developmental activity has been carried out in the area.

District Magistrate of Malda Chittaranjan Das said that adequate police personnel were deployed in the booths and that no political party has filed any complaint over the election process.

Though the Assembly seat is a Congress bastion, the CPM this time is hopeful of clinching a victory owing to the factional rivalry within the former.

The Kharba Assembly seat had fallen vacant after the death of the Congress legislator Mahabubul Haque. The counting of votes will take place on April 16.