People queueing up to cast their vote at Bhupendra Smriti Vidyalaya at Hindmotors in Hooghly district on Monday.
Voting held in 51 constituencies across 7 States; Trinamool-BJP workers clash
The fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election across 51 constituencies in seven States on Monday witnessed several incidents of violence in West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir. The overall tentative turnout stood at 63.26% as against 61.75% in 2014.
More than 81% of the polling stations in this phase were located in rural areas. With the conclusion of this round, 78% of the Lok Sabha election is now over.
Dismal show in J&K
In Anantnag constituency of Jammu & Kashmir, where the polls were conducted in three phases, the turnout was a dismal 8.76%, while it was 28.54% in 2014. However, 71.1% voter participation was registered in Ladakh, close to last time’s figure.
A grenade exploded in Anantnag, but no one was injured. “A grenade was hurled at another place too, but it did not explode,” said an EC official.
Monday’s highest of 74.42% turnout was reported from seven constituencies in West Bengal, which is lower than the corresponding 81.37% recorded in 2014.
3 candidates attacked
Three candidates, two from BJP and one from Trinamool Congress were attacked in the State. The BJP candidate from North 24 Parganas's Barrackpore seat, Arjun Singh, suffered after being allegedly attacked by Trinamool supporters. Mr. Singh, who alleged electoral malpractices at the behest of the Trinamool was seen arguing with locals and chasing supporters of the rival parties at a number of polling booths. Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal Arif Aftab said an FIR has been registered against Mr. Singh on a specific complaint.
About half-a-dozen incidents of violence, in which some people were injured, have been brought to the notice of the Election Commission.
The car of BJP candidate from Hooghly Locket Chatterjee was allegedly damaged by Trinamool workers near a polling booth in Dhanekhali.
The BJP candidate who had come to the booth after receiving reports of rigging by the ruling party workers, also faced demonstration from TMC supporters.
Clashes between BJP and Trinamool cadres were reported from some places, while in Bangaon, crude bombs were hurled, injuring a few people. In Titagarh, some miscreants assaulted CPI(M) supporters at their poll camp.
A turnout of 68.11% was registered in Madhya Pradesh, compared to just 57.86% in 2014.
In Jharkhand, where the naxals burnt down a vehicle in the outskirts of Ranchi, there was an increase from 63.85% the last time to a tentative 65.12%.
Rajasthan too recorded 63.75% polling, almost 2% more than the 2014 turnout. Union Ministers Rajyawardhan Rathore and Arjun Ram Meghwal were in the fray in the State.
In the 14 constituencies of Utttar Pradesh, the figure was 57.93% as against 55.69% the last time.
Among the prominent politicians contesting in the State were Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Bihar recorded a tentative turnout of 57.86% as against 55.69% in 2014.
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