40% polling in Bhatpara till noon

Barrackpore, May 16 (UNI) The Bhatpara Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas reported over 40 per cent polling till 1200 hours today, Barrackpore's sub-divisional officer Umapada Chatterjee said.

Polling in the constituency was deferred on April 27 by the Election Commission following Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Sephali Sarkar's death.

North 24 Parganas Superintendent of Police Pravin Kumar said polling remained peaceful so far.

He, however, said two people have been arrested.

A few EVMs were changed after snogs were noticed as polling began at 0700 hours, reports said.

A presiding officer at booth No 42 in Sahu Memorial School at Kankinara was changed on charges of dereliction of duty, official sources said.

Trinamool Congress candidate and seating MLA Arjun Singh and the CPI(M)'s Harimohan Nath are in the fray.

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