Brisk voting in fifth round of Bengal polls

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Kolkata, May 7 : At least 74 percent of votes were cast by late afternoon Saturday in brisk polling in four West Bengal districts -- three of them Maoist-affected -- in the fifth and penultimate phase of assembly elections.

'Around 74 percent polling has been recorded till 3 p.m.,' Additional Chief Electoral Officer N.K. Sahana told IANS.

Over 74 lakh people are eligible to vote in 38 constituencies spread over parts of Burdwan and Maoist-affected West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts where polling started at 7 a.m.

'The voting percentage was 75 in West Midnapore and Bankura, 72 in Purulia. In Burdwan, the figure was 74 percent,' said Sahana.

Two helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance in the forested areas and remote corners of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, while around 550-600 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed on ground.

Polling to decide the fate of 193 candidates is being held in 12 seats of West Midnapore, five in Purulia, nine in Bankura and 12 in Burdwan districts in this phase covering 9,425 booths.

However, the polls in this phase do not include the 14 constituencies considered the hotbed of Maoist activities, which are slated to vote in the final phase May 10.

Nine preventive arrests were made in Burdwan, while 44 Electronic Voting Machines had to be changed after they malfunctioned.

Among the political heavyweights in the fray are state Health Minister Surjya Kanta Mishra (Narayangarh of West Midnapore district) and state Congress president Manas Bhuniya (Sabong of West Midnapore).

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) is contesting 32 seats, the Communist Party of India (CPI) one, Forward Bloc three, the Trinamool Congress 33, the Congress five and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 38.

Polls for the 294-member assembly started April 18 and will end May 10.

Polling has been completed in 242 seats in the first four phases. The counting of votes will take place May 13.