The inaugural round of West Bengal’s fiercely contested assembly elections is in full swing today, covering 152 constituencies spanning 16 districts. Amid heavy deployment of security personnel, polling stations are drawing massive crowds from dawn.
After exercising his franchise in Siliguri, TMC Mayor Gautam Deb didn’t mince words on alleged irregularities. He revealed that railway staff on reserve duty were relocated to Alipurduar without receiving their ballot papers. ‘We opposed this vehemently last night,’ Deb said. ‘It’s unacceptable that workers are being disenfranchised.’
On a brighter note, TMC candidate Pavitra Kar from Nandigram praised the overall conduct. ‘Voting is woven into our cultural fabric. Everything’s running fine with only isolated small issues,’ she noted post-voting.
To bolster integrity, a stringent ID verification protocol is in place. CAPF jawans conduct initial checks at booth entrances, with BLOs performing a second layer of scrutiny. This dual mechanism aims to prevent bogus voting and maintain order.
Peace has largely prevailed, though minor EVM malfunctions have been reported sporadically. EC officials are monitoring closely, prioritizing quick fixes to keep momentum.
Observers view this phase as a crucial indicator of broader trends. All eyes are on turnout figures and ground reports. Phase two follows on April 29 for remaining seats, counting on May 4.
