The first round of polls in four constituencies of North Bengal ended on Thursday amid complaints of stray violence and booth-capturing by the BJP and the left.
While the Election Commission sources said reports regarding alleged violence had been sought from the respective Returning Officers both the left Front and the BJP alleged large-scale violence and threat by the ruling Trinamool Congress in at least three Assembly segments of Coochbehar lok Sabha seat.
Brisk polling was reported from all the four constituencies of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Coochbehar till reports last came in at 5pm.
Meanwhile, EC sources said Coochbehar recording 80.19 per cent polling till 5 pm as against 84.42 in 2009. Alipurduar recorded 79.37 per cent polling compared to 76 in 2009. About 80.04 per cent voters cast their votes till one hour before the close of polling as against 82.4 in 2009 in Jalpaiguri. In Darjeeling, 77 per cent polling was recorded as against 80.29 in 2009. In all the constituencies, the total polling percentage could cross 85 per cent mark considering long queues at the booths, sources said, adding larger turnout often meant anti-establishment votes.
BJP candidate Mahendra Burman filed an FIR with the police after a band of alleged Trinamool workers attacked his ancestral house at Ratherdanga in Sitalkuchi grievously injuring his three brothers.