As voting concluded for 44 constituencies across five districts in the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Saturday, 10 April, at least four people were shot dead as CISF allegedly opened fire after coming under attack in Sitalkuchi in the Cooch Behar district.
The incident led to a war of words between PM Modi and Mamata Banerjee. While PM Modi blamed Banerjee for the firing, Banerjee said the incident was ‘pre-planned’ by Home Minister Amit Shah.
According to the Election Commission, 75.93 percent voter turnout has been recorded till 5.30 pm.
- The districts of Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, and Hooghly voted on Saturday
- The Election Commission had deployed 789 companies of central forces – the highest force concentration so far – in the fourth phase of elections
- Polling was held for nine Assembly constituencies in Howrah, 11 in South 24 Parganas, five in Alipurduar, nine in Cooch Behar and ten in Hooghly
Polling Concludes for Phase 4 of Bengal Elections
Polling concluded for the fourth phase of the West bengal elections with 44 constituencies casting ballots.
BJP Delegation Meets EC Over Mamata's 'Gherao Forces Remark'
A BJP delegation met the Election Commission over the death of five people in two separate incidents in Sitalkuchi.
“In my opinion, these incidents happened because of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's old statement calling for gherao of Central forces,” BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato said, as quoted by ANI.
'Pre Planned': Mamata Banerjee Blames Shah for Firing in Cooch Behar
Addressing a rally in Siliguri, West Bengal chief Minister mamata Banerjee blame Home Minister Amit Shah for thr firing in Cooch Behar.
“Home Minister Amit Shah is completely responsible for today's incident and he himself is the conspirator. I don't blame central forces because they work under Home Minister's order,” she said.
“I believe, this incident is pre-planned. I will order an investigation into the matter,” she added
She said that she could not go to Cooch behar today due to Model Code of Conduct as polling is going on there.