Clashes in West Bengal on Final Day of Polling for National Election

Kolkata: Parties like the CPM and the BJP have accused ruling Trinamool Congress workers of intimidating voters as 17 of West Bengal's 42 constituencies vote today, in a phase crucial for Mamata Banerjee.

Amid reports of violence, the state registered a poling percentage of 81.77%, marginally close to the huge turnout of 82 per cent in 2009. Four people were shot at on their way to a polling station in Basirhat constituency, 40 km from Kolkata, and about a dozen others allegedly suffered knife injuries.

A BJP councillor alleged that bombs were hurled at her as she returned from voting. She was unhurt but livid, accusing the Trinamool of trying to scare away voters.

Senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury tweeted, "Armed attacks by (Trinamool) goons leaves 22 CPI-M workers seriously injured, 4 with bullet wounds. Central forces mere onlookers!!"

But the Trinamool alleged that it was the Left's activists that had injured 11 of its workers. Accusing the media of exaggerated reports, Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien tweeted, "People are voting peacefully, fearlessly, wholeheartedly in Bengal. 2 local TV channels with 'agendas' making a mountain out of a molehill (sic)."

Mamata Banerjee's party won 14 of its 19 seats from the region in and around Kolkata, that is voting today. The CPM had won none. The other three seats were taken by the CPI, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) and the Congress, which was then Mamata Banerjee's partner. (Elections: Full Coverage)

Ms Banerjee has gone from strength to strength since, registering huge wins in Assembly and local body elections. The partnership with the Congress collapsed almost two years ago.

The BJP, an insignificant player so far, hopes to change that with what it calls the "Modi wave". It's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has held many rallies in the state, drawing big crowds. (Final Day of Battle 2014: The Top Five Contests)

The BJP-led alliance is expected to get the maximum seats in these elections, but might need post election partners to get to a majority mark.

Mamata Banerjee has so far made clear that she will not support a Modi-led government, but Mr Modi has indicated that he does not expect bitter political attacks during campaigning to affect post-election dynamics between parties.