The EC added that polling percentage was poor in the seven districts that went to elections today. The percentage of polling till 3 pm had not crossed 45 per cent in any of the seven districts. “The turnout was poor. In North Bengal, polling was held up owing to the thunderstorm,” said S N Roychowdhury, Secretary, West Bengal Election Commission. The EC blamed the poor turnout in Murshidabad on the large-scale poll violence.
In Cooch Behar, the polling percentage was 30, the lowest among all the districts. The corresponding figure was 40 per cent in Jalpaiguri, 42 per cent each in North and South Dinajpur, 40 per cent in Malda, 35 per cent in Murshidabad and 43 per cent in Birbhum.
The Commission has received reports of disruptions in at least 21 polling booths in Murshidabad. It has also asked the district administration to submit a report on the allegations against the presiding officer of booth 10 in Birbhum’s Suri Block II. A video footage from a TV channel showed villagers voting in full view of the presiding officer.
“Some irregularities have been reported. If the allegations are found to be true, disciplinary action will be taken against him. It could also be treated as a criminal offence,” said Roychowdhury.
Repoll, if any, will be held on May 20 for the third phase. The counting for all the panchayat areas will begin on May 21.