By Arnab Mitra

The Bidhannagar municipal election turned into a virtual battlefield with several incidents of booth capturing, rigging, brick batting and hurling bombs reported from Karunamoyee, Baishakhi and several other places of Bidhannagar right from early morning. Despite all the obstacles, people were seen forming long queues at every booth since morning. Apart from the young and middle aged, many elderly people and future voters were also seen at various polling booths.

NewsGram spoke to a few people and here is their reaction.

70 year old Gayetree Sarkar said that she has never missed any opportunity to caste her vote since 1952. Though she is happy to be a part of this democracy, she also expresses her regrets over the condition of the state.

Baishakhi resident, 89 year old Shephali Das said, "Mamata is like my daughter, but I don't like the way she is running the state."

The general reaction of the people was very optimistic and they said that democracy will eventually win against hooliganism.

According to the Election Commission, the percentage of votes polled were – Bally:43.5; Asansol: 47 and Bidhannagar: 38.5.