By IANS,
Kolkata : Political parties in West Bengal Monday gave the thumbs up to the Election Commission (EC) for the peaceful conduct of the first phase of polls in the state for 54 assembly constituencies.
West Bengal’s ruling Left Front Chairman Biman Bose praised the EC for the way it conducted the first phase of polls in the 54 assembly constituencies and expressed his happiness over the overall turnout in the first phase.
“I am happy with the turnout of voters for the first phase. The election commission has performed his duty. The polling was more or less peaceful. We are confidant of winning most of the seats among the 54 assembly constituency,” Bose told reporters in Kolkata.
The state Congress unit also expressed happiness over the votes being conducted in a peaceful way, but was felt that the voters’ turnout should have been more.
“The vote was peaceful. If the turnout had been more then it would have been much better,” said Manas Bhunia, state Congress president.
The Trinamool Congress expressed its confidence that it will form the next government and felt that people of Bengal will reduce the Left Front’s strength from 235 to 30.
“The Left Front will be reduced to 30. The people will form the next government of Maa Mati Manush. People are voting in favour of Maa Mati Manush,” said Partha Chatterjee, opposition leader and Trinamool Congress leader.
When asked whether he was happy with the Election Commission’s performance, Chatterjee said: “Today is just the first day, let all the phases be complete.”