Kolkata, Apr 23 (PTI) Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday dialled the West Bengal CEO and enquired about the ground situation in the state, where polling was underway for the first phase of assembly elections, officials said.
During the telephonic conversation, Kumar told state Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal that voting was “going on well”, but there was “scope for improvement”, they said.
According to EC data, nearly 90 per cent of the 3.60 crore electors in 152 assembly constituencies exercised their franchise till 5 pm.
Voting began at 7 am and is scheduled to end at 6 pm.
Sporadic violence and assaults on at least three candidates were reported in the first phase of the state assembly polls, while voters and polling agents of political parties in some areas alleged the absence of central forces.
Taking note of the concerns, Agarwal instructed district election officers that central forces should be deployed not only within a 100-metre radius of polling booths but beyond the earmarked zone if required.
He also directed the forces to take firm action based on the situation, the officials said.
In Murshidabad’s Naoda, five people were arrested after protests erupted and a clash broke out between two groups over an incident involving Humayun Kabir, the founder and chairman of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, they said.
The Election Commission sought a report on the alleged assault of BJP’s Kumarganj nominee Suvendu Sarkar and his polling agent, the officials added. PTI SCH BDC
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