Kolkata, 23 April (H.S.): The Election Commission received a total of 635 complaints till 11 a.m. on Thursday during the first phase of polling for the West Bengal Assembly elections. Voting is being held across 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts. The complaints were related to violence, electoral malpractices and other irregularities.

According to the Election Commission, of the total complaints, 260 were submitted directly at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, while 375 were received through the C-Vigil mobile application.

In the first six hours of polling, the average voter turnout across the 152 constituencies was recorded at around 62 percent. District-wise, the highest turnout was reported from Jhargram, while the lowest was recorded in Cooch Behar.

Meanwhile, a tragic incident was reported from a polling booth in Keshpur Assembly constituency of West Midnapore district, where a woman voter, identified as Isratan Biwi, died after falling ill inside the polling premises.

Tension also erupted in Barwan Assembly constituency of Murshidabad district after Trinamool Congress leaders alleged that although the EVM button was being pressed in favour of their candidate, the vote was being registered for the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate. Polling was suspended for some time before resuming following the intervention of General Observer Ujjwal Singh and security personnel.

Ujjwal Singh described the allegation as impossible, but said the complaint would be investigated.

Fresh tension was also reported from Naoda Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, where former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir is contesting on behalf of his newly formed party. His convoy was allegedly attacked by Trinamool supporters in the Shibnagar area. The situation was later brought under control after the intervention of central security forces.

Amid these incidents, senior Congress leader and Berhampur candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury praised the Election Commission for ensuring peaceful polling so far. He said incidents such as voter intimidation, eviction of opposition polling agents and large-scale violence, common in previous elections, were largely absent till noon this time.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party could win up to 125 of the 152 seats going to polls in the first phase.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh