Balurghat (West Bengal) [India], April 26 (ANI): Tension gripped the Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency of North Bengal during the ongoing polling for the second phase on Friday, as BJP candidate and state president Sukanta Majumdar fell into an altercation with a group of ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers.

Majumdar came face-to-face with the TMC workers outside a polling station in Balurghat and confronted them as they directed 'Go back' chants at him.

Also Read | WhatsApp To Stop Working in India? Here's What Meta-Owned Messaging App Told Delhi High Court About End-to-End Encryption.

Three more Bengal seats--Raigunj, Balurghat and Darjeeling, are polling in Phase 2.

Earlier, on Friday, Majumdar cast his vote at polling station number 48 at Municipality Community Hall in Balurghat. He arrived to get his finger inked early, accompanied by his wife.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 13.83% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 9 AM in Six Seats in Second Phase of General Polls.

Flashing his inked finger to media persons milling outside the polling station, the BJP state chief urged people to partake in the celebration of democracy and poll in record numbers.

"We have cast our votes, enlisting our participation in this festival of democracy. I urge people to come out in record numbers and join in this celebration of democracy. I call on everyone to vote with enthusiasm and elect the new leader of the country," Majumdar said, flanked by his wife.

On what were his expectations with regard to the electoral outcome in Balurghat and elsewhere in Bengal, Majumdar said, "The BJP will win."

The BJP state chief is pitted against Biplab Mitra of the TMC in the battle for Balurghat.

In Darjeeling, the BJP has put sitting MP Raju Bista again on the ticket. However, he faces a formidable rival in the TMC's Gopal Lama, a former bureaucrat, and the Congress' Munish Tamang, who has the support of the local Hamro Party, in his bid to win a fresh term in the Lok Sabha.

In, Raiganj, the ruling party in the state has fielded Krishna Kalyani against the BJP's Kartick Pal and the Congress' Ali Imran Ramz.

The three North Bengal constituencies recorded a brisk voter turnout of 15.68 per cent until 9 am, according to data shared by the Election Commission.

Voting for the second phase began at 7 am on Friday in 88 constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories (UTs). Polling for the remaining constituencies in Bengal will be held on May 4, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

The Lok Sabha elections, being held in seven phases are set to end on June 1 and the counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)