Principal rivals Trinamul Congress and the BJP both claimed significant gains on Day One of voting in the eight-phase Assembly elections of Bengal on Saturday amid sporadic violence in some of the 30 constituencies that went to polls and the dramatic surfacing of two unauthenticated audio clips allegedly featuring voices akin to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP leader Mukul Roy and an industrialist-politician.

About 79.79 per cent of voters had cast their votes till 5.46pm. There were allegations of malfunctioning electronic voting machines in some constituencies.

“The higher the turnout the happier we will be. We expect the turnout to be around 85 per cent,” said veteran Trinamul minister Subrata Mukherjee.

“Out of the 30 Assembly segments that went for polls today, AITCOfficial lead in 10, BJP in 20 in the 2019 LS elections. The CM was not on the ticket in 2019. Reports from ground suggest all looking very different today. Significant gains in Phase 1. Good opening day. #KhelaHobe,” tweeted Derek O’Brien, the Trinamul leader in Rajya Sabha and national spokesperson.

The state BJP president Dilip Ghosh also exuded confidence after the poll. “They are trying everything to influence and intimidate voters, but we are coming to power with over 200 seats,” said Ghosh.

At least in the three previous elections in Bengal, high turnouts, 82.91 per cent in 1996, 81.92 per cent in 2006 and 83.07 per cent in 2016 went in favour of the ruling party.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting, in Purba Medinipur on Saturday, March 27, 2021. PTI

The first of the two audio tapes to surface on Saturday was that of a purported conversation between a BJP leader and a woman with a voice resembling that of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, asking him to return to the Trinamul fold.

The second audio clip was of a purported conversation between two BJP leaders- Mukul Roy and an industrialist-politician. In the tape, a voice resembling Roy's is heard explaining why officials of the Election Commission of India had to be convinced not to implement strict rules regarding polling agents of political parties. It goes on to explain why strict guidelines would prevent the party from assigning polling agents in several booths.

The authenticity of the audio clips could not be independently verified.

In the first audio clip, about which the BJP leadership has complained to the Election Commission, the BJP functionary is said to be Pralay Pal, a former Trinamul leader who had switched over to the BJP after Trinamul came to power in 2011.

In the conversation, the woman is heard requesting Pal to “help us a little”. Pal, now a district vice-president, turns down the request voicing several complaints, ranging from assault and the denial of a Scheduled Caste certificate.

The BJP alleged the voice in the audio clip was that of Mamata. Sharing it on its official Twitter handle, the BJP’s Bengal unit tweeted, “Mamata Didi called BJP district vice-president and pleaded for help in Nandigram. Pishi is definitely losing Nandigram, her fear is evident enough in the call.”

Trinamul Congress did not deny the conversation but asked why such a telephone call was recorded.

“I have to ask where did this readymade tape come from? If the President of India calls me, will I record and release it to the media,” asked Subrata Mukherjee. “If a BJP worker gets upset and the Prime Minister does not call him then what kind of a leader is he?”

Earlier in the day, the Congress and ISF-supported CPM nominee Sushanta Ghosh's vehicle was attacked in West Midnapore's Salboni. In East Midnapore's Contai, the car of Soumyendy Adhikary, a local BJP leader and younger brother of Suvendu, was attacked. His driver Ramgobind Singh sustained injuries.

A BJP worker Mangal Soren's body was recovered from his home early on Saturday morning in Keshiary also in West Midnapore where voting was held on Saturday.

Later, the BJP announced a roadshow by Union Home minister Amit Shah.

“The MamataOfficial campaign in Nandigram just got another boost. We hear that a member of the Tourist Gang (part time HM) will be doing a roadshow there on March 30. #KhelaHobe Bring it on,” tweeted Derek O’Brien, the Trinamul leader in Rajya Sabha.

Nandigram will go to the polls on April 1 in the second phase. It is among 30 seats spread over four districts of south Bengal.