Kolkata: Amid sweltering heat, sporadic violence and allegations of electoral malpractice, over 78 percent of the 1.08 crore voters on Monday exercised their right to franchise across 49 constituencies bordering Kolkata in the fourth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.Polling took place in the two districts of Howrah (16 seats) and North 24 Parganas (33 constituencies). Balloting began at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m.”A total of 78.05 percent turnout was recorded till 5 p.m. — 79.16 percent in North 24 Parganas and 75.46 percent in Howrah,” chief electoral officer Sunil Kumar Gupta told media persons here.
Three polling officers in North 24 Parganas were removed. Two presiding officers in Baranagar and Minakha constituencies got the axe for “not being impartial”. Gupta said the poll panel received 4,173 complaints. (IANS)
