Amid great enthusiasm and long queues outside booths, second phase of polling began in West Bengal and Assam today morning. 31 constituencies spread over three districts in West Bengal and 61 constituencies in Assam.
Latest Updates:
18:33 PM Assam Polls: Measures to Attract Voters a Hit
Special steps taken by the election department to attract voters to the polling station struck a chord with the electorate in Kamrup (Metro) district today. READ MORE
18:23 PM: 71 Percent Polling Till 3 PM in Assam
Over 70 per cent votes were cast till 3 PM in the second and final phase of polling in 61 Assembly constituencies of Assam today to decide the fate of 525 contestants. READ MORE
15:55 PM: 60 Percent Turnout Till 1 PM in Bengal
Amid reports of stray incidents of violence in some pockets, an estimated 60 per cent voters today exercised their franchise till 1 PM in 31 assembly constituencies in three districts of West Bengal in part two of the first phase of election. READ MORE
14:55 PM: 40 Percent Votes Cast in Assam Till Midday
First time voters and others were seen queuing up from 3 AM at several of the 12,699 polling stations though voting began at 7 AM as scheduled. Many of them were keen to win the medal given by the district administration to the first two voters to encourage voting.
CRPF fired in the air at a polling station at Chaygaon following protest over a jawan of the central force allegedly "misbehaving" with a pregnant voter there. READ MORE
13:12 PM: 38.65 Percent Turnout in First Four Hours of Polling in West Bengal
The first four hours of polling in 31 Assembly constituencies of West Bengal spread over three districts today recorded a turnout of 38.65 per cent even as sporadic incidents of violence took place.
Election Commission officials said the polling percentage was 38.65 in Bankura, West Midnapore and Burdwan districts till 11 AM as people lined up outside polling booths since early morning to exercise their franchise. While West Midnapore recorded 48 per cent turnout, Bankura witnessed 32.5 pc and Burdwan 35.4 pc, the officials said. READ MORE
12:58 PM: Doctors Turn Polling Personnel to Ensure Leprosy Patients Vote
Voters of a leprosy colony in Bankura district of West Bengal today exercised their franchise freely as a polling booth was marked exclusively for them inside a hospital where doctors turned into polling personnel.
As part of a special drive by the Election Commission to ensure voting by all sections of the society in large numbers, a model polling booth was set up inside Gauripur Leprosy Hospital situated at Kalyanpur, one of the oldest leprosy hospitals in India.
The booth has 320 voters registered in the roll, who are either leprosy patients or belong to a leprosy-afflicted family. READ MORE
12:43 PM: CRPF Jawan Allegedly Misbehaves With Pregnant Woman
CRPF personnel fired in the air at a polling station to disperse a group of voters agitating over alleged misbehaviour of a jawan of the central force with a pregnant woman in Kamrup district today.
The incident occurred when a woman after casting her vote wanted to go back inside again to pick up her child left behind at the Nityasar Khula Bazar LP School polling centre, Superintendent of Police Prasanta Saikia said.
As a CRPF jawan tried to prevent the woman from going inside, other voters got agitated triggering a disorderly situation following which the CRPF fired in the air, he said. READ MORE
12:23 PM: Notification Issued for Last Phase of WB Assembly Polls
The Election Commission today issued notification for the sixth and last phase of West Bengal Assembly polls on May 5.
With this issue of notification, the process of filing of nominations by candidates begins, the last date for which is April 18.
In the last phase of the six-phase polls, voting will be held in 25 constituencies in the two districts of East Midnapore and Coochbehar. READ MORE
11:19 AM: Around 20 Percent Turnout in First Couple of Hours in West Bengal
Sporadic incidents of violence occurred as around 20 per cent electorate cast their vote in the initial hours during polling in 31 Assembly seats in West Bengal today.
The turnout in seats spread over three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Burdwan districts in the second part of the first phase was was 19.95 per cent till 9 AM, election officials said.
Voting began at 7 AM with a large number of people turning up to avoid the scorching sun as day time temperatures are crossing 40 degree Celsius. READ MORE
10:56 AM: 25 Percent Votes Cast in First Three Hours in Assam
At least 25 per cent of the 1,04,35,271 electorate exercised their franchise amidst tight security during the first three hours of polling in the second and final phase of Assembly elections in Assam today.
Voters, particularly women and first time voters, stood in queues at the polling booths two hours ahead of the commencement of polling at 7 AM for the remaining 61 seats. READ MORE
10:16 AM: CPI(M) Agent Beaten Up, Bombs Recovered Near Polling Booth
A CPI(M) agent was allegedly beaten up by Trinamool Congress workers and obstructed from entering a polling booth, while bombs were found in two bags near another booth in Jamuria Assembly constituency in Burdwan district where polling is underway today.
A police official said two CPI(M) agents were obstructed from entering booth numbers 76 and 77 of Jamuria seat, just as polling began at 7 AM. READ MORE
07:18 AM: Assembly Elections: Polling Begins in West Bengal
The second part of phase one of West Bengal Assembly polls for 31 seats, where the future of top state opposition leaders is at stake, began this morning.
An alliance of Left Front and Congress have put up a tough fight against Trinamool Congress which aspires to come to power for a consecutive second term. READ MORE
07:25 AM: Assembly Elections: Poll Begins Amid Tight Security in Assam
The second and final phase of Assam Assembly elections began at 7 AM today amid tight security to decide the fate of 525 candidates in 61 of the 126 constituencies with ruling Congress, BJP-AGP-BPF alliance and AIUDF locked in a keen contest.
An electorate of 1,04,35,271, comprising 53,91,204 males, 50,44,051 females and 22 others, will exercise their franchise in 12,699 polling stations to decide the fate of 477 male and 48 female candidates in Lower and Central Assam. READ MORE