3 of every 4 vote in first phase

The presiding officer of a polling booth in Harirampur constituency in South Dinajpur was removed after he spoke with minister Narayan Biswas on the phone.

Voters Diary
Two presiding officers replaced for breach

The presiding officer of a polling booth in Harirampur constituency in South Dinajpur was removed after he spoke with minister Narayan Biswas on the phone. The Election Commission received a complaint and replaced the officer,additional chief electoral officer N K Sahana said. Another presiding officer replaced was Sunil Kumar Sarkar,from a booth in Kumarganj constituency of South Dinajpur. He had allegedly cast votes in the names of two blind voters. Written complaints were sent to the Election Commission,Sahana said. Yet another poll official,meanwhile,was hospitalised after he suffered a heart attack in a booth in Jalpaiguri district.

Journalists caned

Police lathicharged photo journalists at a polling station in Malda district. The photographers had followed Sailen Sarkar,Environment and Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the outgoing cabinet,into the booth. Police objected and caned the journalists when they ignored the warning. Some of the photographers sustained minor injuries.

Money distribution

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Sreekumar Mukherjee,CPI candidate from Itahar in North Dinajpur,has complained that Trinamool candidate Amal Acharya was distributing money among voters of Iluapara around 8.30 pm Sunday. Central forces seized Acharyas car from the roadside and the Election Commission is investigating the allegation.

Boycott for roads

Demanding metalled roads,1,400 voters of Sayyiadpur village in Kumarganj constituency of South Dinajpur abstained. Four roads lead to the village,with 18 km running through it. Villagers had boycotted the 2009 parliamentary polls too.