Polling ended on Thursday for 35 seats in the eighth phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal amid the rampaging second wave of COVID-19.
Long queues were seen outside most polling booths since early morning, raising concern over the spread of the infection even as the Election Commission said that all precautionary measures are in place.
The state registered its highest single-day spike of 17,207 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, while 77 more people succumbed to the disease.
The poll panel has deployed 641 companies of central forces in the final phase to ensure free and fair voting, he said.
Voting was being held at 11,860 polling stations spread over 11 assembly constituencies each in Murshidabad and Birbhum, six in Malda and seven in north Kolkata.
Clashes broke out on Thursday between members of two political parties in Birbhum district's Ilambazar area amid the voting exercise for the last phase of Bengal elections, with BJP's Bolpur candidate Anirban Ganguly having come under attack during the melee, an official said.
Activists of the rival political outfits hit each other with brickbats and bamboo sticks around 2.30 pm, the election official said, adding that at least two persons were injured in the clash. (PTI)
Polling conducted peacefully today across 11,860 polling stations across 35 Assembly constituencies, in the last phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal. Voter turnout of 76.07 % was reported by 5 PM: Election Commission of India
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
Firecrackers were set off outside Mahajati Sadan in central Kolkata on Thursday morning, which were initially alleged to be crude bombs, an official said.
The incident, which happened on Central Avenue in the heart of the city soon after polling began in the area, triggered panic among the people.
"Preliminary probe revealed that banned firecrackers were set off and not bombs," the official at the Chief Electoral Officer's office said.
Those behind the incident are being identified and a hunt is on to nab them, he said. (PTI)
68.46% voter turnout recorded till 3.37pm in West Bengal Assembly elections: Election Commission of India
#WATCH | TMC supporters gherao car of BJP candidate Kalyan Chaubey in Maniktala, North Kolkata. He says, "Our polling agent was sitting inside when a 50-yr-old woman came to vote instead of a 31-yr-old woman. When the agent objected she was scolded. This is hooliganism of TMC." pic.twitter.com/2aTzFdWevc
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
56.19 per cent voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in 35 assembly seats where polling is underway in final phase.
We've submitted a memorandum regarding the counting process because they've (EC) introduced that all counting agents and candidates should be tested for COVID19 but no such instructions are there for polling agents/central forces that's what we wanted to point out. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said the arrangements are being made to have testing for everybody but he has no instructions as far as central forces are concerned: TMC MP Saugata Roy
Trinamool Congress writes to Election Commission of India regarding 'inadequacies' in its direction for counting of votes on May 2; says no provision has been made for submission of negative RT-PCR test by polling officers and CAPF personnel
Stray incidents of violence were reported on Thursday from several areas where voting is underway for the eighth and last phase of assembly elections in Bengal, but the overall polling process has been peaceful with 37.80 per cent turnout till 11 am, EC officials said.
37.80 per cent voter turnout recorded till 11 am in 35 Assembly seats where polling is underway in final phase.
Election is the greatest festival in democracy, we both voted. COVID protocol being followed 100%. I'm very happy with the arrangements. Excellent work done by EC & CAPF. Democracy is powered only by your votes. Anyone who doesn't vote loses the right to grievance: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar cast their votes at a polling booth in Chowringhee, Kolkata. #WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/QpM5BcyS73
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
A man was killed and two others injured as a car hit them in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, triggering tension in the area hours ahead of the polling, police said on Thursday. The incident happened in Shahbazpur village in the Domkal police station area around 10.30 pm on Wednesday, they said.
#WestBengalElections2021 | 16.04% voter turnout recorded till 9:31 am. pic.twitter.com/vlBswY3tLf
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
West Bengal: A bomb was hurled near Mahajati Sadan Auditorium in north Kolkata today. Election Commission has sought details of the incident. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/hbhikPorZo
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
The poll panel has placed Trinamool Congress's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal under strict surveillance till 7 am on Friday, as the chief electoral officer received "several complaints against him".
West Bengal: Specially abled voters cast their votes at a polling booth in Bolpur, Birbhum. #WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/GtlZReAu8f
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
Voting began with a half an hour delay due to a glitch in the EVM, at polling booth number 188 in Birbhum.
Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty cast his vote for the final phase of #WestBengalPolls, at a polling station in Kashipur-Belgachia, North Kolkata
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
He says, "I had never voted so peacefully ever before. I must congratulate all the security personnel." pic.twitter.com/3nXS3UvkDI
Voting for the eighth and final phase of #WestBengalPolls is underway. Visuals from a polling booth in Murshidabad. pic.twitter.com/YCFYEP3yGq
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
Voting is being held at 11,860 polling stations spread over 11 assembly constituencies each in Murshidabad and Birbhum, six in Malda and seven in north Kolkata.
Over 84.77 lakh voters will decide the political fate of 283 candidates in this phase. The poll panel has deployed 641 companies of central forces in the final phase to ensure free and fair voting.
Long queues were seen outside most polling booths since early morning, raising concern over the spread of the infection even as the Election Commission said that all precautionary measures are in place.
