73% polling in West Bengal in fifth phase amidst charged political atmosphere and isolated violence

Amidst isolated incidents of violence and a charged political atmosphere West Bengal registered 73% polling in the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha election

Amidst isolated incidents of violence and a charged political atmosphere, with contesting candidates seen publicly targeting their opponents, West Bengal registered 73% polling in the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha election.

Among the seven Lok Sabha constituencies that went to the polls, Arambag registered the highest polling at 76.90%, followed by Bangaon at 75.73%, Uluberia at 74.50%, while Hooghly registered 74.17% polling. Of the three urban constituencies polling in this phase, Sreerampur registered 71.18%, and Howrah and Barrackpore both registered 68.84% polling. These percentages are expected to rise as polling continued till 6 p.m.

Isolated incidents of violence were reported from Barrackpore, Bongaon, and Arambagh, and passions ran high when candidates contesting for Opposition parties were confronted by supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

At Dhanekhali in Hooghly district, BJP candidate Locket Chatterjee came face to face with Trinamool Congress MLA Asima Patra, and slogans were raised by both sides. While TMC supporters led by Ms. Patra raised slogans of ‘Joy Bangla’, the BJP’s supporters responded with ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

“You are a thief,” Ms. Chatterjee shouted at Ms. Patra, who responded, “You are a dacoit”.

At Chandannagar in the Hooghly Lok Sabha Constituency, women with slippers in hand tried to accost Ms. Chatterjee.

Tension prevailed in Barrackpore on the other bank of the river Hooghly, where BJP candidate Arjun Singh faced protests by TMC supporters and was seen using unparliamentary language in public. At Manirampur in Barrackpore, police and central forces had to use to force to disperse a mob that was targeting Arjun Singh.