<div>The fourth phase of polling in Bengal on Monday was marred by Trinamool Congress workers assaulting the three-year-old girl of a CPM supporter. <br /><br />Barring the attack on the child, polling remained largely peaceful, taking place under a heavy security blanket of central forces personnel. The polling percentage till the day’s end at 6 pm stood at nearly 80, Election Commission officials said. <br /><br />Following the attack on the child at Bijpur in North 24 Parganas, the police arrested two persons, both believed to be Trinamool workers. The CPM supporter alleged that ruling party men attacked his house and assaulted his family members, not sparing even his three-year-old daughter. Both the girl’s parents, however, cast their vote after the attack. <br /><br />Polling took place at the two districts of North 24 Parganas and Howrah, where a number of seats are adjacent to Kolkata, including some up-market residential pockets. Even the satellite township of Bidhannagar on Kolkata’s eastern fringes underwent peaceful polling, where voters apprehended intimidation and violence like they witnessed during the municipal elections in 2015. Although some complaints of booth jamming and rigging came in from Dumdum and Bidhannagar, the police handled the situation and arrested some Trinamool workers. <br /><br />While the phase had a number of top leaders in fray, including serving and former ministers, Kamarhati seat in North 24 Parganas received maximum attention where the Trinamool has fielded sitting MLA Madan Mitra. Fighting to retain his seat from behind bars, the minister has been in jail for more than a year for his alleged role in the multi-crore Saradha scam. Trinamool’s star candidates from Howrah included deceased cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya’s daughter Vaishali and cricketer Lakshmi Ratan Shukla, who is pitted against actor Roopa Ganguly, fighting on a BJP ticket. <br /><br />CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra praised the EC for its proactive role and told reporters, “Although Trinamool workers unleashed violence and didn’t even spare a child, people have largely been able to exercise their democratic rights. <br /><br />Overall, voting was peaceful and the EC has passed the test with flying colours.” Finance Minister Amit Mitra, a candidate in the phase, refuted allegations of violence while talking to a Bengali news channel. “Our party will win because of the developmental work we have done,” he said. <br /></div>
<div>The fourth phase of polling in Bengal on Monday was marred by Trinamool Congress workers assaulting the three-year-old girl of a CPM supporter. <br /><br />Barring the attack on the child, polling remained largely peaceful, taking place under a heavy security blanket of central forces personnel. The polling percentage till the day’s end at 6 pm stood at nearly 80, Election Commission officials said. <br /><br />Following the attack on the child at Bijpur in North 24 Parganas, the police arrested two persons, both believed to be Trinamool workers. The CPM supporter alleged that ruling party men attacked his house and assaulted his family members, not sparing even his three-year-old daughter. Both the girl’s parents, however, cast their vote after the attack. <br /><br />Polling took place at the two districts of North 24 Parganas and Howrah, where a number of seats are adjacent to Kolkata, including some up-market residential pockets. Even the satellite township of Bidhannagar on Kolkata’s eastern fringes underwent peaceful polling, where voters apprehended intimidation and violence like they witnessed during the municipal elections in 2015. Although some complaints of booth jamming and rigging came in from Dumdum and Bidhannagar, the police handled the situation and arrested some Trinamool workers. <br /><br />While the phase had a number of top leaders in fray, including serving and former ministers, Kamarhati seat in North 24 Parganas received maximum attention where the Trinamool has fielded sitting MLA Madan Mitra. Fighting to retain his seat from behind bars, the minister has been in jail for more than a year for his alleged role in the multi-crore Saradha scam. Trinamool’s star candidates from Howrah included deceased cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya’s daughter Vaishali and cricketer Lakshmi Ratan Shukla, who is pitted against actor Roopa Ganguly, fighting on a BJP ticket. <br /><br />CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra praised the EC for its proactive role and told reporters, “Although Trinamool workers unleashed violence and didn’t even spare a child, people have largely been able to exercise their democratic rights. <br /><br />Overall, voting was peaceful and the EC has passed the test with flying colours.” Finance Minister Amit Mitra, a candidate in the phase, refuted allegations of violence while talking to a Bengali news channel. “Our party will win because of the developmental work we have done,” he said. <br /></div>
