With sporadic violence on one side and smooth polling on the other, the third phase of Assembly elections in Bengal and Assam concluded with a polling percentage of around 80 per cent.
Over 79.19 lakh voters exercised their franchise in Assam in the state's final phase of polling.
Meanwhile, five more rounds of 'khela' (games) remain to be played in Bengal.
First-time voters and celebrities in Assam captured their joy with a picture and shared it across on social media platforms.
In neighbouring Bengal however, claims and counter-claims of violence including attacks on TMC's Sujata Mondal, Najmul Karim and BJP's Papia Adhikary marred the polling process.
While CM Mamata Banerjee alleged "blatant misuse" of central forces to "influence voters", PM Modi who campaigned across multiple locations stated that TMC had lost the confidence of its minority vote bank and was staring at what he called an 'impending defeat' for the party.
Residents of 31 constituencies in Bengal headed to the booths today to decide the electoral fate of 205 candidates, only 13 of whom are female. In Assam, 40 constituencies across 12 districts voted with 337 candidates in the fray.
#ElectionsWithTNIE
— S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) April 6, 2021
71.79 % polling in TN in 2021.
Namakkal with highest turnout of 77.91%
Chennai with lowest turnout of 59.40%@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress #TNAssemblyElection2021 pic.twitter.com/88Thdh8CIj
Voter turnout in #AssemblyElections2021 till 7:11 pm:
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Assam 82.29%, Kerala 70.04%, Puducherry 78.13%, Tamil Nadu 65.11% and West Bengal 77.68%
West Bengal: Many voters at a polling booth in Diamond Harbour constituency claimed that TMC workers didn't let them vote.
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
"Officials came here but didn't facilitate voting for us," said a woman, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/VJCzLeBJsg
TMC's Derek O Brien wrote to Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal regarding 'gruesome sexual assault' on a minor girl by CRPF jawan in AC 198-Tarakeshwar, Hooghly.
#SHOCKING
— Derek O'Brien | ????? ?'???????? (@derekobrienmp) April 6, 2021
A CRPF jawan caught molesting a child (minor girl) in Tarakeswar Hooghly. He was beaten up by locals. Rescued by cops.
My VIDEO statement from Trinamool Bhawan at 2pm#WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/1liACHWOmZ
Maintaining that the TMC dispensation has institutionalised "ease of crime and ease of loot", the prime minister said that a BJP government, instead, will provide people "ease of living and business". (READ MORE)
78.94 per cent polling recorded till 5 pm in Assam; Bengal sees voter turnout at 77.68 per cent till 6 pm
At least three persons were injured in the firing by the bodyguards of Laskar on April 1 after clashes broke out between supporters of BJP and AIUDF inside a polling station in Sonai constituency. Police sources said Laskar was interrogated twice for several hours during the last 48 hours and his statements have been recorded in front of a magistrate. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)
Papia Adhikary had reportedly gone to a local hospital to visit to an injured BJP worker when alleged TMC supporters started assembling there and attacked her. "The attack took place as soon as I came out of the hospital. The TMC goons attacked me and others who were accompanying me. They were armed with sticks. I have never faced such a situation," Papia said, adding that she will lodge a complaint with the Election Commission.
#WATCH | West Bengal: Media persons and volunteers alleged that they were pushed out by security personnel from the premises of a polling booth in Tarakeswar, Hooghly pic.twitter.com/kNAUuUIbrb
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Hooghly District Control Room has continuously been monitoring the Election Process. #WestBengalElections2021 @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI@rajivkumarec @PIBKolkata pic.twitter.com/vWZWmrBVFT
— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) April 6, 2021
Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed BJP activists were forcibly occupying polling booths and attacking TMC members, including party candidates, and asserted that she would not get bogged down by such "intimidatory tactics". (READ MORE HERE)
In West Bengal, admn conducts polls in favour of ruling party. That's why, in last Panchayat polls in West Bengal, 34% of voters couldn't vote. It resulted in an unopposed victory of ruling party on 20,000 seats: AR Chowdhary, Congress on EVMs & VVPAT found at TMC leader's house pic.twitter.com/Zi3UouRCzY
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Polling is underway in 31 constituencies of West Bengal and 40 constituencies in Assam as people decide the fate of the government they elect.#WestBengalPolls #AssamAssemblyPolls #ElectionsWithTNIEhttps://t.co/G9k2Hrok3V
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) April 6, 2021
The vehicle of a BJP candidate in Falta, South 24 Parganas, was attacked by alleged TMC supporters.
Many polling centres were decorated with recyclable items, having art installations made with bottles, plastic wrappers, etc. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)
BJP is DOWN & OUT!
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 6, 2021
On a day when @BJP4Bengal has resorted to unabated violence for Phase 3 polls, have a look at @narendramodi ji’s FIRST flop show in Bengal!
Crowd leaves while PM is still on stage in Cooch Behar.
The writing is on the wall- Bengal Rejects BJP!#VoteForTMC pic.twitter.com/irtHQIlyRW
?????? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ???? : ???? @narendramodi -?? #BJPAnbeAsolPoriborton pic.twitter.com/EuhqBR8s3m
— BJP Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) April 6, 2021
Voter turnout in #AssemblyElections2021 till 1 pm:
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Assam 53.23%, Kerala 47.28%, Puducherry 53.76%, Tamil Nadu 39.00% and West Bengal 53.89% pic.twitter.com/hUvF5Cz9kY
Goons of BJP attacked TMC candidate Sujata Mondal (file pic 2) at Arandi-I booth no.263 Mahallapara. Her personal security officer has suffered injuries on head & is in critical state. CRPF personnel were silent spectators: TMC's Derek O'Brien(file pic 1) to EC #WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/uzzn8Wdc5o
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Bihu-themed Ambari model polling station under 38 Goalpara West constituency generates enthusiasm among voters.
Sporadic incidents of violence were reported on Tuesday in some areas where voting is underway in the third phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, even as the overall situation by and large remained peaceful with 34.71 per cent turnout recorded till 11 am, officials said.
The Congress-led grand alliance appears to have an edge over the BJP-led ruling alliance in the 40 constituencies where the third and final phase of Assam elections will be held on Tuesday. These seats are spread across lower Assam.
In the 2016 elections in these seats, BJP and Congress had won 11 each. Bengali-speaking Muslims, considered to be the vote bank of Congress and the minority-based AIUDF, are large majorities in several of these seats.
TMC candidate from Arambag complained of being manhandled and chased away by alleged BJP supporters
TMC candidate Sujata Khan in Arambag was allegedly chased by BJP supporters. She complained of being manhandled.@PranabM29940593 #WestBengalPolls #ElectionsWithTNIE pic.twitter.com/VynuCWOBmB
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) April 6, 2021
An 80-plus women voter is helped by the armed forces to cast her vote at Assam's Chaygaon assembly constituency.
ITBP jawans helping a voter to reach to a polling booth in Hoogly rural constituency during third phase of West Bengal Assembly polls today.#Himveers#WestBengalElections2021 #WestBengalElections pic.twitter.com/1QL58aO4iD
— ITBP (@ITBP_official) April 6, 2021
WB | Asst Sector Officers of Sec 17, 177-Uluberia North Assembly Constituency, Tapan Kumar Sarkar, Sanjib Majumdar, Mithun Chakraborty suspended for gross violation of ECI guidelines by taking reserve EVMs to their relatives' house on 5 Apr: DM & Dist Election Officer, Howrah
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Three Home Guards of Howrah (rural) District temporarily demobilised for their failure in performing their duty during assembly elections: SP Howrah (Rural) District
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
WB: Clash erupts b/w TMC & BJP supporters in Arambag, as voting in assembly elections is underway
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
In Arandi-I area here, we've minority, SC voters who love Mamata Banerjee. Goons of BJP threatened & tortured women voters last night: Sujata Mondal, TMC candidate from Arambagh pic.twitter.com/EqUVoAzBiA
While Assam witnesses 33.18 per cent voter turnout in 40 assembly seats where polling is underway for last phase, West Bengal recorded 34.71 per cent of turnout in 31 seats till 11 am.
There're 40 seats in this phase, we are expecting to win on 22 of them, number can be higher. This elections we will win more seats. Last time we had won 84 seats, we are expecting at least 90 seats this time: Assam Minister & BJP candidate Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari pic.twitter.com/5ebRkn8V1H
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Assam Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma casts his vote at a polling station in Amingaon, Guwahati pic.twitter.com/9NTYFnlF7Z
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
It's more serious because today is voting. EC has taken action not to use those machines & suspend the officer. But this may be a bigger thing than it seems. So we demand that there should be full inquiry of these VVPATs & EVMs found in his house: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
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— ITBP (@ITBP_official) April 6, 2021
ITBP troops guarding booths and helping senior citizens in Kulpi, Sundarbans during third phase of West Bengal Assembly polls today.#Himveers#WestBengalElections2021 #WestBengalElections pic.twitter.com/4kmxNw35J2
?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?????-?????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??????????? ????????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ?????
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 6, 2021
???? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????
Situation is fine at many places but not okay where we're strong. At booth 45, people voted for TMC but it's going to BJP. In Arandi-ii, our workers were beaten. Central Forces are also not neutral.They're telling people to vote for BJP: Sujata Mondal, TMC candidate from Arambagh pic.twitter.com/bmMi3vuAJ7
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
In Goghat,Distt Hooghly,West Bengal Piru Adak,a BJP worker was attacked by Trinamool goons. When his mother Madhavi tried to save him the goons attacked and killed her.
— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) April 6, 2021
While Assam witnesses 12.83 per cent voter turnout in 40 assembly seats where polling is underway for last phase, West Bengal recorded 14.62 per cent of turnout in 31 seats till 9 am.
#WestBengalPolls | TMC goons are not allowing people to cast their votes at booth no. 180, 143 Dagira Baduldanga. I have complained to the Election Commission officials: Dipak Haldar, BJP candidate from Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas pic.twitter.com/ZFBGH0BfLa
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
All allegations (by BJP) are false. When a party weakens, it gives baseless statements. It is they who facilitate hooliganism, they bring money & people from outside. Whatever they say is a lie. Voters in South 24 Parganas is with TMC & Mamata Banerjee: Saokat Molla, TMC MLA pic.twitter.com/L6pVUFGIIk
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Four model Polling Stations have been set up - one per constituency - each with a unique theme generating a lot of enthusiasm amongst our voters in Assam's Goalpara.
Thermal scanning of voters being done, hand sanitiser and hand gloves being provided to them as they stand in a queue to cast their vote for the third phase of #WestBengalPolls.
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Visuals from a polling station in Uttar Moukhali Junior High Madrasa in Canning Purba constituency. pic.twitter.com/Sd54mQH0aq
Tapan Sarkar, sector officer of Sector 17 in AC 177 Uluberia Uttar at Howrah district, went with Reserve EVM and slept at a relative’s house. This is a gross violation of EC’s instructions for which he has been suspended and charges will be framed for major punishment: EC pic.twitter.com/Af939ZDgJL
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
#UPDATE: Polling has now begun at booth number 129 of AC 200 in Arambag, Hooghly. #WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/MMaJI8aHLb
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
While Assam is having its last phase of polling, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress is dominating most constituencies.
West Bengal: BJP candidate from Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas, Dipak Haldar casts his vote at Abdalpur F P Primary School in the district for the third phase of #WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/YBkkA4MPbJ
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
West Bengal: Polling yet to begin at booth number 129 of AC 200 in Arambag, Hooghly. Voters continue to stand in a queue. #WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/PGbE8NehZl
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Two senior citizens cast their votes for the third and final phase of #AssamAssemblyPolls . Visuals from a polling booth in Kokrajhar. pic.twitter.com/2u01CZl0yY
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021