70 per cent polling in Islampur byelection

Kolkata, Dec 4 (UNI) Polling for the Assembly byelection in Islampur in North Dinajpur district ended peacefully today with about 70 per cent voters exercising their franchise.

''The polling was absolutely peaeceful. We have an approximate report of about 70 per cent polling,'' Chief Electoral Officer Debasish Sen told UNI.

The polling was held in 159 booths amid heavy security.

The result of the byelection will be announced on December seven.

The byelection was necessitated following the death of CPI(M) MLA Farooq Azam.

While the CPI(M) had put up Ms Syde Farhat Afroze as its candidate, the Trinamool Congress had renominated Abdul Karim Chowdhury, who had won the seat seven times.

The Congress had fielded Hamidul Islam, a loyalist of Union Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

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