West Bengal Fourth Phase Polls: 52% Voting recorded till 1pm

The fourth phase of polling began today at 7 am.

Till 1 pm, in all the three districts an average of 52% of voters have cast their votes.

So far 180 people have been detained for poll-related violence. In Howrah BJP candidate Roopa Ganguly was caught manhandling a Trinamool Congress worker.  

Polling is taking place for 49 constituencies. About 1.08 crore voters will exercise franchise in North 24 Paraganas, Bidhanagar, and Howrah districts. The ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP are contesting in all the seats, whereas the CPM-Congress coalition has put up its candidates for 46 seats.

The fate of about 345 candidates would be decided by 6 pm today. Prominent candidates include Trinamool ministers such as Amit Mitra, Purnendu Basu, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Bratya Basu, Jyotipriyo Mullick and Aroop Roy. About 12,500 polling booths have been put up.     

Security is tight with about 90,000 security personnel deployed across the three districts.

Special focus is being laid on Salt Lake area (Bidhannagar) in the northern part of city, EC officials said.

The central force contingent includes 672 companies who will be assisted by a 22,000 strong team of state police personnel.

To keep a strict vigil on the law and order situation, five police observers, all of IAS ranks, have been deployed in the two districts.

Besides, another 1100 mobile surveillance teams will be doing additional monitoring work. Based on inputs from the electorate, about 5500 voters

have been identified as vulnerable voters who received threats or intimidation from different party activists.