Burdwan , 10 May 04 :  
More than a average polling of 51% have been registered at 1 pm in the district. Asansol registered 44%, where as Burdwan 60%, Durgapur 47% & Katwa 52% during the period.

4500 voters at Nakrasota under Hirapur Assembly constituency & 1200 voters in Samdi both in Asansol Loksava constituency have boycotted the polling. Voters have restrained from registering their votes in demand of water & roads.

Disruption in Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) have delayed the start of polling in 4 booths in Durgapur & 2 booths in Burdwan sub-division and 1 in Asansol sub-division. The EVM at Uchalan under Khandagosh assembly constituency malfunctioned after registering 60 votes. The administration rushed a substitute EMV at the booth & managed to re-register the 60 votes by tracing out the voters. "The voters already voted at the earlier EVM was traced out & was brought at the booth & was asked to vote again. After which, the normal polling continued" informed Deb Kumar Hazra, the district information officer.

The Trinamool Congress have complained that, 2 of their supporters along with 1 PDS supporter were severely beaten by the CPI(M) supporters at Diknagar village (booth no. 67), Nadanghat under Katwa PC. They were attacked when they protested against the CPI(M) supporters of keeping a close watch on the EMV through an open window. The TMC also protested against the ruling party of influencing the voters by displaying a dummy EVM within 50 yards of the booth. "They (CPIM) were displaying the dummy EVM with only CPI(M) candidates name & symbol on it to influence the voters within the 50 yards. This is a direct violation of the ECI's rules." informed Bijoy Ghoshal, district executive committe member of the Trinamool Congress.