The crucial third phase of West Bengal Assembly elections 2016 was concluded on 21 April after deploying over one lakh security personnel. As many as 62 constituencies spanning the four districts of Burdwan, Kolkata North, Murshidabad and Nadia went to polls in this phase. About 1.37 crore voters cast their votes across 16,461 polling stations to decide the fate of 418 candidates, including 33 women candidates.
Polling Percentage
According to some reports, the voter turnout was 79.22%. The actual figure could be more than that since the data provided was based on text messages received from polling officials on duty at 5 P.M. The polling percentage was 70.32 % in Murshidabad, 68.62 % in Nadia, 70.55 % in Burdwan and 49.43% in Kolkata North till 3 P.M.
Poll-related Violence in Third Phase of Bengal elections
The third phase was marred by incidents of violence in different parts of the state. One CPI(M) worker lost his life after a crude bomb explosion in Jitpur village in Domkal, Murshidabad district. The Murshidabad SP has filed a report to the Election Commission on the incident.
Three more people were injured in Ketugram in Burdwan district in another crude bomb explosion. A CPI(M) supporter was allegedly beaten up by TMC cadres in Chakdaha region of Nadia district. Two CPI(M) polling agents were allegedly attacked by TMC workers in Gayeshpur town, Nadia. Union Minister Babul Supriyo, who was heckled by TMC workers while he was heading to a poll booth to cast vote, claimed that the Election Commission was not doing enough to ensure free and fair polling in the state.
The Kolkata Police said that 11 persons had been arrested in north Kolkata for trying to influence polling. More than 1,000 complaints were received by the Election Commission and 50 people were arrested or detained over poll-related violence. It must be remembered that Jorasanko constituency, in which the tragic flyover collapse happened few days prior to the commencement of elections, also went to polls in the third phase. The incident had claimed 21 lives and injured 85.
Candidates Who Contested in Third Phase
The number of candidates contesting on BJP ticket in this phase were 62, TMC 62, CPI(M) 38 and Congress 26. Some of the prominent candidates contesting in the third phase were Trinamool Ministers Sashi Panja, Subrata Saha, Sadhan Pandey, CPI(M) members Anisur Rahaman and Debesh Das, Congress leader Soumen Mitra and former president of BJP West Bengal Rahul Sinha. Out of the 418 candidates who were in the fray, 80 face criminal cases and 65 face serious criminal cases including rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, theft, crimes against women etc. Some 61 candidates have declared assets worth over Rs 1 crore and 13 among them have assets above Rs 5 crore. BJP candidate from Shyampukur seat, Somabrata Mandal, is the richest of them all with total assets worth over Rs 28 crore. The fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections will be held on 25 April in 49 constituencies of the state.
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