Five candidates, including two women, were assaulted, while clashes between rival political groups erupted during the third phase of polling in West Bengal on Tuesday with the Election Commission reporting a turnout of over 77 per cent till about 5pm, two hours before polling ended.

Amid accusations of violence by both the Trinamul and the BJP, police arrested five persons -- three members of the TMC and two of the BJP -- for their alleged involvement in assaulting TMC candidate Sujata Mondal in Arambagh earlier in the day, an officer said.

Voting was conducted in 31 seats spread over Hooghly, Howrah and South 24-Parganas with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, officials said.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, campaigning in North Bengal during the day, tweeted a video, claiming that central forces on poll duty in Bengal were trying to secure votes for BJP.

“The blatant misuse of central forces continues unabated. Despite us repeatedly raising this issue. ECISVEEP continued to be a mute spectator while men in uniform are being misused at several places to openly intimidate TMC voters and influence many to vote in favour of one party,” Mamata tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was addressing a rally in Cooch Behar, countered the chief minister's allegations. Claiming that a BJP wave was blowing across Bengal and that his party would form the next government, Modi said Mamata's angry reactions indicated that she had lost the polls.

The turnout in Hooghly was the highest at 79.29 per cent at 5.45 pm and 77.92 per cent and 76.74 per cent in Howrah and South 24-Parganas respectively.

In the fray in the third phase of the Bengal polls are hard-nosed politicians, turncoats and political newbies. Among the big contenders whose fortunes are dependent on Tuesday’s voting is former CPM minister Kanti Ganguly, making a third attempt from Raidighi. Former Rajya Sabha MP from BJP Swapan Dasgupta is contesting from Tarakeswar.

The BJP has also fielded actresses Papia Adhikary and Tanushree Chakraborty in Uluberia South and Shyampur, both in Howrah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP candidate Rajib Banerjee during an election campaign rally for State Assembly polls, at Dumujola Stadium in Howrah district on Tuesday. PTI

The outgoing Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee is seeking re-election from Baruipur West. Sujata Mandal Khan, the estranged wife of BJP MP Saumitra Khan, is the Trinamul nominee in Arambagh.

On the other hand, the TMC turncoat Dipak Haldar has been fielded by the BJP in Diamond Harbour. Last week, Haldar was beaten up by alleged Trinamul supporters. Similar attacks happened in Falta as well. Clashes have also been reported between the Trinamul and ISF supporters.

Candidates as victims

Trinamul nominee in Arambagh in Hooghly Sujata Khan Mandal was chased by a group of alleged BJP supporters at Mahallapara, Arandi, where she had gone to look into complaints of rigging in some booths.

“The BJP had plans to rig the booths and would not allow any of our voters to step out of their homes. Once I reached there, villagers started coming out of their homes to vote. BJP goons chased me with lathis and I had to run to the fields to escape,” she said, claiming some of the blows landed on her neck and back.

She also demanded that voting be declared void in two of the booths.

In Falta in South 24-Parganas, BJP nominee Bidhan Parui alleged he was beaten by Trinamul workers when he was moving around while voting was on. “Voters are not being allowed to come out. Trinamul has unleashed terror in the area,” Parui said.

Actor attacked

BJP candidate for Uluberia South actor Papia Adhikary was attacked by alleged Trinamul supporters when she went to visit an injured BJP worker at the Uluberia sub-divisional hospital. “The men were armed with sticks. I have never faced such a situation,” Papia alleged, adding that she would complain to the election commission.

State minister and Trinamul nominee Nirmal Maji alleged that two of his security personnel were injured in brick-batting at Muktichowk in Uluberia North. Maji claimed he escaped being hurt as he was wearing a helmet apprehending an attack.

Violence against voters

CPM nominee for Diamond Harbour Pratikur Rahman intervened in a clash between CPM and Trinamul supporters at Basuldanga, Dakshinpanchannagram.

“Two of our supporters were injured. I am not in a position to write text messages, so I am sending voice texts,” Rahman said in a message.

In another village, Panakua Bishnupur in South 24-Parganas, a woman was forcibly stopped from going to a polling booth, as per a video that was widely shared. An unidentified man is heard threatening the woman who is heard dismissing him.

Home fired upon

Debnath Pramanik, a local BJP functionary in Bishnupur in South 24-Parganas, alleged he and his family members were forced to escape to adjoining farms near their homes after they were fired upon.

Pramanik claimed he fled Monday night, while his wife and daughter escaped in the morning after repeated gun shots were allegedly aimed at their home.

Row over death

Sunil Roy, a 72-year-old Trinamul leader, who held the position of booth president in Hooghly’s Goghat, passed away on Tuesday while on his way back from the booth after casting his vote. Bikash Roy, his son and Trinamul’s booth agent in Hatpukur, Goghat, alleged a group of BJP supporters had heckled him while he was leaving the booth. But the BJP nominee, Biswanath Karak, claimed Trinamul was trying to politicise a natural death.

EVMs found

The Election Commission suspended a section officer, a sub-inspector and three home guards on Tuesday after EVMs and VVPAT sets were found from the home of a local Trinamul leader in Uluberia North’s Tulsiberia village. The incident happened late on Monday night.