69 pc turnout till this evening in Bengal; Sporadic violence claims one life

Kolkata, Apr 23 (UNI) Sporadic violence claimed one life and injured another during the third of the
seven-phase polling in Bengal today even as an estimated 69 per cent of 8,023,846 electorate
exercised their franchise till this evening in Bengal to decide the fate of 61 candidates in five
Parliamentary constituencies of Balurghat, Malda North, Malda South, Jangipur and Murshidabad.
While Murshidabad recorded 63.91 per cent, Jangipur 64.24, Balurghat 72.02, Malda Uttar 64.66 and Malda Dakshin 65.97.
Primary report said the deceased was standing in the queue at Ranitala Baligram booth to cast his ballot when the rival supporters of TMC and Congress got involved in clashes with bamboo, clubs and other weapons.
Congress leader Abu Hena claimed the victim was their party supporter, while TMC leader Abu Taher Khan said the death had nothing to do with polling.
He said the killing was due to family feud.
Piarul was declared brought dead when he was taken to nearby hospital.
Meanwhile, a polling officer found hanging in his house in Buniadpur, South Dinajpur in Balurghat constituency. Babulal Murmu allegedly committed suicide on Monday night. His wife has alleged that he was under pressure and disturbed because of developments in West Bengal in the last two phases.
No complaint has been registered against anyone in the matter so far.
In another incident at Tiktiki Para of Domkol in Murshidabad, the husband of a TMC councillor was injured in a bombing and being rushed to Kolkata for treatment, while false voting was reported from a Ratua booth in Malda leading to the removal of Presiding Officer.
A report said in Murshidabad's Kumripur booth a Congress agent survived an attempt on his life.
The Election Commission has deployed a total of 324 companies of central forces, which are covering over 92 per cent of the polling booths in the five Lok Sabha constituencies, to ensure free and fair polling, a senior election official said.
Besides general election observers and expenditure observers, the poll panel has for the first time deployed a special police observer.
In Balurghat, there are thirteen contestants, including those from the mainstream parties such as TMC, BJP, RSP and Congress, but the main fight will be between TMC and BJP. There is only two woman candidate in the fray in Balurghat constituency.
The ruling TMC has fielded Arpita Ghosh from this constituency once again who is pitted against RSP candidate Ranen Barman, BJP candidate Sukanta Majumdar and INC candidate Abdus Sadeq Sarkar.
As per the Election Commission data in 2019, a total number of electorate in Balurghat Lok Sabha seat is 14, 29, 783 of whom 7,35, 851 are male, 6,93,876 female and 56 third genders voters. A
total number of 1530 polling stations has been set up for voting.
In Malda North, there are sixteen contestants, including those from the mainstream parties such as TMC, BJP, CPI (M) and Congress, but the main fight will be between TMC and Congress. There are only two woman candidates in the fray in Malda North constituency.
As per the Election Commission data in 2019, a total number of electorate Malda North Lok Sabha seat is 16,83,797 of whom 8,63,317 are male, 8,20,427 female and 53 third genders voters. A total number of 1713 polling stations has been set up for voting.
In Malda South, there are ten contestants, including those from the mainstream parties such as
TMC, BJP and Congress, but the main fight will be between TMC and Congress. There is only one woman candidate in the fray in Malda South constituency.
As per the Election Commission data in 2019, a total number of electorate in Malda South Lok Sabha seat is 15,73,433 of whom 8, 00, 475 are male, 7,72,924 female and 34 third gender voters. A total number of 1616 polling stations has been set up for voting.
In Jangipur, there are eleven contestants, including those from the mainstream parties such as
TMC, BJP and CPI (M) Congress, but the main fight will be between TMC and Congress. There is only one woman candidate in the fray in Jangipur constituency.
The Congress has fielded Abhijit Mukherjee from this constituency once again, while the BJP has fielded Mafuza Khatun, CPI(M) has given the ticket to Zulfiqar Ali and TMC has fielded Khalilur Rahaman. Mahfuza Khatun left the CPI (M) and joined BJP recently.
As per the Election Commission data in 2019, the total number of electorate in Jangipur Lok Sabha seat is 16,14,081 of whom 8,24,119 are male, 7,89,921 female and 41 third genders voters. A total number of 1762 polling stations has been set up for voting.
In Murshidabad, there are eleven contestants, including those from the mainstream parties such as
TMC, BJP, CPI (M) and Congress are in the fray, but the main fight is between TMC and CPI (M). There is no woman candidate in the fray in Murshidabad constituency.
The CPI(M) has retained its candidate for this elections. To defeat the current MP in the Lok Sabha elections 2019, AITC has fielded Janab Abu Taher, while Congress has announced Abu Hena against Chowdhury as their candidate. BJP has fielded Humayun Kabir as its candidate for
Murshidabad seat.
As per the Election Commission data in 2019, the total number of electorate in Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat is 17, 22, 752 of whom 8, 82, 248 are male, 8, 40, 476 female and 28 third genders voters. A total number of 1907 polling stations has been set up for voting.
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