West Bengal sees 74% voting in first phase

Polling in West Bengal started on a largely peaceful note, with around 74 per cent of the voters exercising their franchise in the 54 assembly seats spread across six districts in North Bengal.

The voter turnout was 74 per cent till 6 pm and the final figure could be higher. It was more than 80 per cent in the last elections.

“We are happy with the turnout. We will win most of the seats and the Left Front will form the eighth government in West Bengal,” Left Front Chairman Biman Bose said.

Today’s elections across the districts of Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri would decide the fate of 364 candidates, including 11 ministers in the Left Front government.

The first phase is crucial for the Congress, as of the total 65 seats it is contesting, 27 are in North Bengal. Moreover, the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance is facing competition from rebel Congress candidates in the six districts.

The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, is looking to make inroads into North Bengal. Any gain in the six districts would be a bonus for the party, as South Bengal is seen as its stronghold.

Political observers, however, believe the mandate in the Hills could be fractured, as the Gorkhaland issue dominated the political scene, with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha banking on identity politics. The Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, gaining ground among tea garden workers, has fielded candidates in seven seats and is supporting the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Terai-Dooars.

The second phase of the six-phase Bengal elections will be on April 23 across Murshidabad, Nadia and Birbhum.