16.94 per cent polling in West Bengal in first two hours

An estimated 16.94 per cent of over 80 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling in five Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal, an election official said.

Barring a few isolated incidents of violence, polling has largely been peaceful in Balurghat, Maldaha Uttar, Maldaha Dakshin, Jangipur and Murshidabad Lok Sabha seats, he said.

"Two women voters were injured in an alleged incident of bombing in Murshidabad's Domkal area near a polling booth. Both of them have been hospitalized and we have sought report on the matter from the district magistrate. No one has been arrested or detained in the case so far," the official said.

The Election Commission has deployed 324 companies of central forces to cover over 92 per cent of the 8,528 polling booths in the five seats, he said.

"Voting in underway in a peaceful manner in the five Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal. There were reports of violence from two places, and we have initiated appropriate measures to take care of all issues," he told PTI.

Altogether 80,23,852 electorate will seal the fate of 61 candidates in the third phase of the staggered elections.

According to the poll official, Jangipur and Murshidabad registered maximum polling till 9am at 17.54 per cent, followed by Balurghat at 17.28 per cent, Maldaha Dakshin at 16.22 per cent.

Maldaha Uttar recorded the lowest turnout so far at 16.11 per cent.

Besides general election observers and expenditure observers, the poll panel has for the first time deployed a special police observer and a special observer.

Prominent among those in the Tuesday's fray are sitting MPs and TMC candidates - Arpita Ghosh from Balurghat, and Mausam Benazir Noor from Maldaha Uttar - Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit from Jangipur and BJP's Humayun Kabir.