iNDICA NEWS BUREAI-
Voting for the fourth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections began at 7am on May 13 for 96 seats across 10 states and Union Territories. The states of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh will be in focus as many big-ticket candidates are in the fray.
In Bengal, where violence has marred previous rounds of voting, a Trinamool Congress worker was killed in a crude bomb attack. The incident took place in the Bolpur Lok Sabha constituency, mere hours before polling was scheduled to begin. A former Trinamool Congress worker was also found dead in West Bengal’s East Burdwan district
The body of the former Trinamool Congress worker, identified as Mintu Sheikh, was recovered from Ketugram in the district. Sheikh quit the party three months ago. His family claimed that he was attacked by some unknown miscreants while returning home late Sunday night.
Stray incidences of poll-related tension have already started surfacing from different pockets in the state. The BJP complained that a temporary party camp at Suri in Birbhum district was demolished by the ruling Trinamool Congress activists before the beginning of the polls. The ruling party leadership has, however, denied the allegations.
Reports of tension have also come from Naskashipara in Nadia district, as bombs were hurled at the residence of a local BJP leader Hazrat Mondal. Reports of clashes between Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) activists have also been reported from the Kaliganj area under Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency in Nadia district.
The eight constituencies in the state going to polls are Baharampur in Murshidabad district, Birbhum and Bolpur in Birbhum district, Krishnanagar and Ranaghat in Nadia district, Bardhaman-Purba in East Burdwan district and Bardhaman-Durgapur and Asansol in West Burdwan district.
