KOLKATA, May 30 (IANS): Sporadic clashes were reported from many places in West Bengal today as urban voters queued up to cast votes for civic body polls in the shadow of Friday's train tragedy and the political bickering over it.
Though the situation was largely peaceful, trouble broke out between the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) cadres and main opposition Trinamool Congress workers in Jamuria of Burdwan, and Naihati in North 24 Parganas district, with the security forces resorting to a baton charge to control the situation.
Activists of the two parties also clashed in Beleghata in the city stalling polling.
Around 85 lakh people (8.5 million) in 1,792 wards across 81 civic bodies, including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, are eligible to exercise their franchise in what is considered the last trial of strength for the contesting parties ahead of the assembly election showdown next year.
