Kolkata, May 13 (Reporter) Amid stray violence, an estimated 75.66 per cent of over 1.5 crore electorate exercised their franchise till 5 PM on Monday in the fourth phase election to eight Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. While Bolpur recorded 77.77 per cent polling, Krishnanagar 77.29 per cent, Ranaghat 77.46 per cent, Bardhaman Purba 77.36 per cent, Bardhaman-Durgapur 75.02 per cent, Asansol 69.43 per cent, Birbhum 75.45 per cent and Baharampur 75.36 per cent, according to ECI sources. Trinamool Congress candidate Kirti Azad and BJP nominee Dilip Ghosh, the rival candidates for Bardhaman- Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, were seen handshaking and embracing each other when they were monitoring the voting at their polling booths. Ghosh said, " Azad may play cricket World Cup but he did not face him. This time he will defeat the former cricketer and start winning for the saffron brigade in Bengal from this seat. " Meanwhile, Ghosh alleged that his security convoy was attacked at a Montessori where his security convoy car's window panes were damaged. Ghosh alleged a section of TMC supporters blocked the road by lying on the road. The security of Ghosh escorted him to safety. Ghosh alleged the state police did not act despite the TMC activists shouted slogans "Joy Bangla". Bjp spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya accused the TMC supporters of blocking Ghosh's car at Manteswar. The TMC alleged the BJP was indulging in "goondagiri". Reinforcement and Central Quick Response Team rushed to the area. Tension continued. The ECI sought action taken report. The TMC posted on X, " Phase 3: BJP Candidate Dhananjay Ghosh threatens to recreate the Sitalkuchi massacre. Phase 4: BJP Candidate @DilipGhoshBJP adopts Sitalkuchi model & ensures lathicharge by central forces. " " Is violence @BJP4India's only strategy on poll days? Is there no value of life here in the eyes of Bangla-Birodhi BJP? " it asked. " PM @narendramodi & HM @AmitShah should know that every drop of blood spilled over political vendetta will be avenged through votes. The power of democracy will teach these Bohiragotos a lesson, " the party further stated. " Once again the Central Forces have unleashed terror, this time on the watch of @DilipGhoshBJP. Despite clear directives to exercise restraint, this trigger-happy CRPF personnel brutally lathicharged on innocent public at booths 213 & 214 in Rayan-I GP of Bardhaman Uttar AC, " the party said. " What drove them to abandon all semblance of professionalism? The fear of BJP's imminent defeat? " the TMC asked. Tension ran high between BJP and TMC supporters in Bolpur Lok Sabha constituency after a BJP camp near booth nos 186/187 was found ransacked early this morning. Later local police at Suri arrived and restored the situation. A CPI(M) agent at Baniakhali in Chapra under Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency in Nadia was driven out from the booth for two hrs after being beaten by alleged TMC supporters, but the local CPI(M) leader got him back by the help of Central forces and allowed him to sit. Quick Response Team rushed to restore the situation after voters at No 2 booth under Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seats alleged that the TMC activists prevented them from coming within 200 mt near polling booth.Women of the QRT intervened to let the voters safely go near the booth. Voters alleged that the TMC workers allegedly threatened to face consequences if they go to cast votes. The women voters said the ruling party cannot dictate the electorate.In Krishnanagar CPI(M) candidate S M Sadi alleged the TMC goons threatened the voters against coming to polling booths at Nakashi Para and Chopra. Sadi took the voters to near polling centres, primarily women, after central forces cleaned the areas of unauthorised assembly by the alleged ruling party supporters. A BJP polling agent was injured after being beaten by alleged TMC supporters at Hasan in Birbhum, which was, however, denied by the ruling party. Local people, especially the women, protested the attack on the BJP agent. Police arrived to restore the situation. An estimated over 1.5 crore electorate, including 71,45,379 women and 282 third genders, spanning over 15,507 polling stations will have to return eight winners from some 75, including 16 female, aspirants seeking their electoral fortune in five districts. The contest, however, revolves around the candidates of ruling Trinamool Congress, main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and combined Left-Congress for Baharampur, Ranaghat (SC), Krishnanagar, Bardhaman Purba, Bardhaman-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur and Birbhum Lok Sabha seats in five contiguous districts of Central Bengal. While the TMC and BJP are contesting in all eight seats, the Left in six, and Congress in two constituencies.In the fourth phase, some 70,641 voters are above 80 many of whom have already cast votes using home voting facilities, State election official said.Among the voters, the new electors are 23,544 people between the ages of 18-19. Of the total booths of 15,507, 3,647 are critical and violence-prone.Women-run polling booths are 791, while five booths are to be handled by specially able poll personnel. Among the booths, 42 are models, according to the poll panel. Altogether, 596 CAPF and over 33,472 state police are being deployed to ensure free and fair voting, official sources said. The key players in the south Bengal constituencies are state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur, TMC's Mahua Moitra (Krishnanagar) and Shatrughan Sinha (Asansol), former cricketers Yusuf Pathan (Baharampur) and Kirti Azad (Bardhaman-Durgapur), BJP's former state president Dilip Ghosh (Bardhaman-Durgapur) and former Union minister S S Ahluwalia (Asansol). EDS : PLS PICK UP SUITABLY FROM EARLIER SERIES...////...