Large voter turnout in Bengal by-polls

Kolkata, June 12 (IANS) An average 70 percent of voters exercised their franchise in by-polls to Daspur and Bankura assembly seats in West Bengal Tuesday. The elections passed off peacefully, an Election Commission official said.

"While 73 percent votes were cast in Daspur, 67 percent voters exercised their rights in Bankura," state Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta told IANS.

"There were no untoward incidents. It was 100 percent peaceful," he said.

Despite the blistering heat and extreme humidity, there were long queues of voters at the polling booths.

The assembly constituencies fell vacant following the death of Trinamool Congress legislators Ajit Bhunia, who represented Daspur in West Midnapore district, and Kashinath Mishra, who had won from Bankura, headquarters of the Bankura district.

For the by-polls, the Trinamool Congress nominated Bhunia's widow Mamata Bhunia from Daspur and Mishra's widow Minati Mishra from Bankura.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) gave tickets to Samar Mukherjee in Daspur and Nilanjan Dasgupta in Bankura.

The election results will be declared June 15.