Bengal recorded 80% polling in phase I (A)

KOLKATA: Barring a few sporadic instances of violence in some areas in West Midnapore district, the first phase (A) election in West Bengal remained peaceful. Eighteen assembly constituencies voted today.

Around 80 per cent turn out has been recorded in three districts--West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. West Midnapore however witnessed highest polling, that is around 81 per cent while Purulia recorded 80 per cent and Bankura recorded 78 per cent.

Eighteen constituencies included the Maoist violence affected constituencies. Despite a vote boycott call in Jhargram, Salboni, Nayagram, Gopiballavpur, Binpur, Balarampur and Baghmundi areas by the Maoists, the voters came out of their houses and caste their votes.

The election commission of India identified 13 of the 18 seats as Left Wing Extremism affected. Polling in these areas ended at 4 pm while polling in rest of the areas continued till 5 pm. In phase I (A), there were 133 candidates that included 21 candidates with criminal records.