Polls end in Bengal, 83.48% votes cast votes in final phase

The last leg of the six-phase assembly election in West Bengal went off peacefully on Tuesday in 14 Naxal-hit constituencies of Purulia, Bankura and West Medinipur districts with overall voter turnout of about 84.8 per cent.

“In the sixth phase about 84.8 per cent voting was recorded. And the election was absolutely peaceful in this phase,”said Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Saibal Barman. While seven assembly seats of West Medinipur district recorded 86.13 per cent polling, for four seats of Purulia and three seats of Bankura it was about 76.80 per cent and 84.50 per cent respectively. Considering the safety and security of the officials, voting process was officially closed at 3 pm which is two hours earlier than the usual time.

There was arrangement of tight security with deployment of 614 companies of central forces for the election purpose where 41 companies were already permanently posted in these areas. Beside three helicopters were used to keep aerial surveillance of the area.

Among heavyweights, western region development minister Sushanta Ghosh and law minister Rabilal Moitra tried their luck in this leg. The fate of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities(PCPA) leader Chhatradhar Mahato, who contested as an independent from the Jhargram seat, was also sealed today.

Though no major untoward incident was reported in this phase, according to Election Commission, 26 EVMs were replaced due to malfunctioning and 15 polling officials were withdrawn during the poll process because of health reasons. There was also an incident of vote boycott at Baghmundi of Purlia district over local issues.

With the voting in the Jangalmahl, the six-phase assembly election in West Bengal comes to an end. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.