West Bengal Civic Polls: violence and 'malpractices' reported; 76% polling

The elections to 108 civic bodies recorded 76.15 % polling till 5 pm on Sunday even as several incidents of violence were reported from different parts of the state. Many people, including policemen and candidates, received injuries amid the bombing, vehicles were vandalised and there were allegations of rigging. A BJP candidate was arrested for breaking EVM machines. The BJP has called a 12-hour bandh on Monday to protest the largescale violence.

Interestingly, 84% polling was recorded in East Midnapore -- the stronghold of BJP's Suvendu Adhikari -- which is the highest in the state while the least votes were recorded in Darjeeling. Taking note of the violence, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has called State Election Commissioner Saurab Das for a meeting before 10 am on Tuesday.

"State Election Commissioner Shri Saurab Das has been called upon to brief Guv anytime before 10 am tomorrow in view of alarmingly disturbing inputs, depicting scenario of violence and lawlessness, with administration in partisan mode and systemic failure," the Governor tweeted. But Director General of Police Manoj Malviya said polling was peaceful on Sunday. "We have made 797 preventive arrests and 51 arrests. Election has been conducted peacefully. No big incidents have been reported except a few sporadic ones."


However, the ground reality seemed to be different. Murshidabad's Dhuliyan (ward 14) turned into a war zone amid allegations of false voting and rigging. When policemen reached the spot, bricks were hurled at them and a senior police person was injured.