84.8% turnout in 4th phase of Bengal poll

An estimated 84.8% voting has been recorded in the fourth round of assembly polls in West Bengal which passed off peacefully, the Election Commission announced today.

However, the turnout is set to go up as people were till waiting to cast their franchise in some places, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi told reporters here.

"Polling has gone off very peacefully just like the previous three phases", he said.

In 2006 assembly polls, these 63 constituencies spread over Howrah, Hoogly, East Midnapur and parts of Burdwan districts had witnessed 83.19% voting, he said.

The EC had put Chief Electoral Officers of Bihar and Orissa as special observers, over and above the general observers and expenditure observers to monitor the polls.

People boycotted polling in four polling stations on developmental issues and the Commission has removed two presiding officers following complaints from observers, Zutshi said.