Phase 1 polling begins across 152 constituencies as crude bombs fly in Murshidabad and EVMs malfunction across multiple districts
West Bengal went to the polls Thursday in the first of two phases, with 3.6 crore voters casting ballots across 152 constituencies but the day began with violence rather than calm.
Crude bombs were hurled by unidentified assailants in Murshidabad’s Nowda, injuring several people and prompting the Election Commission to seek an urgent report from the district’s magistrate. Overnight clashes had already been reported from multiple locations ahead of polling.
Technical troubles compounded the tension. EVM malfunctions disrupted voting at booths across Murshidabad, Purba Medinipur, Cooch Behar, Malda, and Siliguri, with polling delayed or temporarily suspended at several stations. Officials confirmed replacements were dispatched.
Despite the disruptions, voter turnout reached 18.76% within the first two hours. West Midnapore led with 20.51%, while Malda recorded the lowest at 16.96%.
The election’s defining contest remains TMC versus BJP. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, voting in Nandigram, alleged his party’s polling agent had been arrested. TMC candidate Pabitra Kar also cast his vote in the same constituency.
Results for both phases will be declared on May 4.
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