New Delhi, April 23 As polling began on Thursday across 152 Assembly constituencies spread over 16 districts in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress candidate for the Siliguri Assembly constituency and Mayor of Siliguri Gautam Deb cast his vote and later raised concerns regarding polling arrangements.
Speaking to IANS, he said, “I have already cast my vote, and in the late night, we have been informed that several railway employees have been taken off from the reserve duty and have been sent to Alipurduar. We have protested that they have not been issued a ballot for their respective votes...”
Meanwhile, TMC candidate from Nandigram, Pabitra Kar, said the polling process was largely smooth, adding, “This is our tradition and culture. There is no major problem with voting at any place. There are only small issues here and there...”
Polling across the state covers 152 constituencies in 16 districts, with voting beginning under tight security arrangements. In several areas, voters were seen waiting in queues outside booths even before the official start of polling, reflecting high participation levels in the opening hours.
This time, voters are undergoing a two-stage verification process -- first by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel at the entrance of polling station premises, followed by verification by booth-level officers (BLOs) before entering the polling room. Officials said the system has been put in place to ensure strict identity verification and smooth conduct of voting.
The polling process remained largely peaceful during the early hours when the report was filed, although isolated reports of malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs) were received from certain booths at the start of voting. Election officials are monitoring the situation closely to ensure the swift resolution of any technical issues.
The first phase of polling is being seen as a key indicator in the tightly contested election, with major political parties closely tracking turnout trends and booth-level responses across regions.
The second phase of polling for the remaining 142 Assembly constituencies will be held on April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
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