Scattered Violence and 73% Turnout in Bengal's Fifth Phase Lok Sabha Polls

During the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, a voter turnout of 73% was recorded till 5 pm on Monday across seven parliamentary constituencies, as per official reports. This phase saw a decrease in voter engagement compared to both the previous four phases and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The final figures for voter turnout will be disclosed later. Despite the deployment of an unprecedented security force, including over 60,000 personnel from central forces and around 30,000 policemen, scattered incidents of violence were reported. State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ariz Aftab confirmed that steps were immediately taken to address these disturbances.

Arambagh constituency witnessed the highest voter turnout at 76.90%, although this was a drop from its previous records in 2019 and the 2021 assembly elections. Similarly, other constituencies like Bangaon, Uluberia, Hooghly, Serampore, Barrackpore, and Howrah also saw a decrease in voter participation compared to past elections. The polling process, which lasted from 7 am to 6 pm, was marred by several incidents of violence and protests against political figures.

In Hooghly, BJP's sitting MP Locket Chatterjee encountered protests led by TMC activists. The situation escalated until police and central forces intervened to prevent further conflict. Barrackpore also witnessed unrest as BJP candidate Arjun Singh was met with protests and clashes between TMC and BJP supporters ensued. Additionally, incidents involving stone pelting at BJP leader Kaustav Bagchi's car and the arrest of individuals for election-related offences were reported.

The election commission had identified over 57% of polling stations as sensitive out of the total 13,481 stations. A diverse pool of candidates, with as many as 88 contenders across the constituencies and a notable number of 15 candidates in Bongaon alone, marked this phase. Among the eligible voters were 61.72 lakh women and 348 transgender persons.

The significant security measures implemented for this phase underscored the challenges faced in ensuring a peaceful voting process. Despite these efforts, the instances of violence highlighted the tense atmosphere in some areas. The decrease in voter turnout across several constituencies raises questions about various factors influencing voter participation in this crucial electoral process.