West Bengal civic polls: As it happened

Shortly after voting began for West Bengal civic polls, incidents of violence were reported from several areas including Burdwan district where a TMC worker was shot dead.

West Bengal civic polls: As it happened

Kolkata: Shortly after voting began for West Bengal civic polls, incidents of violence were reported from several areas including Burdwan district where a TMC worker was shot dead.

Around 74 lakh people are eligible to vote for 763 candidates who are contesting civic polls this year.

“A total of 35 companies of central forces, besides state forces have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling," State Election Commissioner SR Upadhyay said.

Here are the updates:

  • Voting begins at 7 am. 35 companies of central forces besides state forces have been deployed.
  • Trinamool Congress worker was shot dead in Katwa, Burdwan district outside a polling booth.
  • TMC worker Indrajit Singh was shot dead at a polling booth near Katwa bus stand.
  • While TMC has alleged that that Singh was killed while trying to prevent booth jamming at Ward no 14 by a gangster, according to PTI.
  • District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan has confirmed the death and sought report of the incident.
  • According to ANI, at least 16 crude bombs have been recovered from Sonamukhi in Bankura.
  • Commenting on incidents of violence, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and told ANI, “Indications coming from Bengal elections is that Mamata ji wants to win elections by hook or by crook.”
  • BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh was quoted by ANI, “Elections are dance of democracy but in WB it has become dance of violence.” He added that Mamata Banerjee is willing to adopt “undemocratic means to prove her relevance in West Bengal politics.” 
  • Voter turnout was nearly 16% in first two hours. 
  • Meanwhile, a 55-year-old man was shot at while standing in a queue before Andhra Vidyalaya in ward no six, PTI reported.
  • OSD, State Eleection Commission Sabyasachi Ghose said, "We have received reports of the two incidents but are yet to get any confirmation. There have been incidents of violence in various parts of the state where the polls are on. Whenever we are receiving any report or complaint we are asking the appropriate authorities to take action.”
  • “State government, irrespective of political colour and affiliation, must stop and control law and order situation,” Congress leader AM Singhvi told ANI.
  • Polling was interrupted in Murshidabad in the the afternoon after major earthquakes measuring 7.9 on Richter Scale struck several parts of India and Nepal, the ANI reported. Voters evacuated polling booth and rushed outside to safer areas.
  • The voter turnout at the close of polling was 60 percent at 3 pm, the IANS reported.