Baharampur
Reports of sporadic incidents of violence and complaints of electoral fraud poured in as voting was held in eight constituencies, including high-profile seats like Baharampur and Krishnanagar, on Monday in West Bengal's fourth phase elections.
These eight constituencies recorded 75.66 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm.
At this stage in South Bengal, all eyes were on Baharampur and Krishnanagar seats, where state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Trinamool Congress agitation leader Mahua Moitra are seeking re-election respectively. Baharampur recorded 75.36 per cent voter turnout, while Krishnanagar recorded 77.29 per cent.
![TMC candidate Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar constituency on polling day. TMC candidate Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar constituency on polling day.](https://bl-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/z3u9xx/article68172188.ece/alternates/FREE_660/PTI05_13_2024_000061B.jpg)
![TMC candidate Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar constituency on polling day. TMC candidate Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar constituency on polling day.](https://bl-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/z3u9xx/article68172188.ece/alternates/FREE_660/PTI05_13_2024_000061B.jpg)
TMC candidate Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar constituency on polling day | Photo courtesy: PTI
„I am visiting various booths in the constituency to ensure that no election violations take place. We depend on the Election Commission for free and fair elections. But the Trinamool Congress has always I am voting in favor of the police,” Chaudhary told the media here.
The state witnessed multiple incidents of violence and clashes between ruling TMC and BJP workers throughout the day in Bardhaman-Durgapur LS constituency. In this constituency, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dilip Ghosh is contesting against former cricketer Kirti Azad.
In Monteswar area of Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency, a clash broke out between TMC and BJP supporters around noon when Ghosh was on his way to the booth following complaints of crowding.
As former Bharatiya Janata Party president Ghosh was on his way, TMC supporters blocked his convoy and squatted in front of his car. They too started protesting against him. Stones were allegedly thrown at his convoy.
„The police are just silent bystanders. The Trinamool has unleashed a reign of terror here. Trinamool goons have been beating up our party's polling workers since morning. They are not allowing free and fair voting. No,” Ghosh told the media.
His convoy was allegedly attacked again at Karna Gate in Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency. Bricks were reportedly thrown at his motorcade. „This is the second time my convoy has been attacked. Two of my security personnel were injured. They were taken to hospital,“ Ghosh said.
However, the state's ruling TMC denied the charges, claiming that Ghosh sensed a „defeat“ in the election and was trying to „deteriorate“ the atmosphere.
A total of 1,705 complaints were received from eight constituencies, West Bengal Chief Election Officer said in a press conference.