CPI(M) worker killed in Bengal polls, more than 18 pc voting in first two hours
Official reports said Tahidul Islam, a CPI(M) polling agent was first beaten up and then shot dead by miscreants at shiropara under Domkal constituency of Murshidabad district. He was said to be a polling agent.
CPI(M) candidate from Domkal, Anisur Rahman, accused the Trinamool Congress of murdering Islam, 35, and alleged that ruling party men had captured several booths in the constituency.
The Election Commission has sought a report on the incident from the state's Chief Electoral Officer.
Reports of stray incidents of bombing, assault and intimidation reached from few other areas of Murshidabad and also from Nadia's Gayeshpur and Bardhaman's Ketugram and Raina. Allegations of Left-Congress combine voters being intimidated also came from Kolkata's Belgachia-Cossipore and Beliaghata constituencies.
Meanwhile, Election Commission sources said an overall 18.02 percent votes were cast till 9 am.
While 14.71 percent voter turnout was recorded in North Kolkata, 17.01 percent voting was reported in Burdwan, while Nadia recorded a turnout of 18.09 percent and Murshidabad 20.53 percent.
Around 1000 complaints have been lodged so far.
The polling for the third phase began at 7 am. at over 16,000 polling stations in the politically crucial state.
Over 1.37 crore voters are expected to cast their votes in Murshidabad, Burdwan and Nadia districts, along with Kolkata North to decide the fates of 418 candidates.
Polling is underway in 7 constituencies in Kolkata.
In order to maintain law and order during the polling, one lakh security personnel have been deployed for the third phase of voting.
In this phase, fates of key candidates, including Trinamool ministers Shashi Panja and Sadhan Pande, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha, five-time Congress MLA Md Sohrab, CPI-M MLA Anisur Rahman, will be decided.
Apart from Saradha scam and Narada sting operation, the ruling TMC is facing tough times as Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to TMC poll candidate Rezzak Mollah for passing controversial remarks on the personal lifestyle of actress- turned- BJP leader Roopa Ganguly.
Earlier, Apr 14, the ECI had served a show cause notice to Mamata Banerjee for an alleged breach of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during an election campaign in Asansol.
Polling in this phase will continue till 6 pm.
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