Lok Sabha 2014: Nearly 75 per cent polling recorded in West Bengal

KOLKATA: A nearly 75 per cent voter turnout was recorded till four pm in the six Lok Sabha seats which went to the poll in the fourth leg of the five-phase election in West Bengal today.

On an average, 74.12 per cent of the electors cast their votes till 4 pm in the six constituencies of Jhargram, Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura, Bishnupur and Asansol, state Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta said.

Gupta said that polling has been completed in the LWE areas covering six assembly segments of Jhargram, Binpur and Bandwan in Jhargram parliamentary constituency and Balarampur, Baghmundi and Jaypur in Purulia constituency.

Polling would continue till 6 pm in the rest of the constituencies, he said.

"Long queues have been seen in many polling stations and the polling will continue tll they are cleared," Gupta said.

The CPI(M) and other opposition parties alleged massive rigging and booth capturing in many parts of the constituencies, but the CEO said barring some stray incidents the election was free, fair and peaceful.

"All complaints had been taken care of, but nothing objectionable was found," Gupta said.

An elaborate security arrangement was made for the polling in Jangalmahal with the deployment of central forces in all polling stations with the potential of being targeted by the Maoists.

Gupta said voting remained peaceful except for some stray incidents.

"We have not yet received report of any major incident regarding disruption of law and order or complaint of booth jamming or violation of the model code of conduct," he said.