Assembly Elections 2021 Phase 2: Mamata Banerjee is contesting against Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram.
Over 82 per cent voter turnout was registered in Bengal in the second phase of the Assembly election today - 4.3 per cent less than in 2016. Assam registered a voter turnout of 77.2 per cent in the second phase today as opposed to 82.7 per cent in 2016.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of booth capture in Nandigram where she is contesting against her protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari. "...They didn't allow the local people to cast their vote. From morning I am campaigning...Now I am appealing to you, please see...," a visibly upset Ms Banerjee was seen complaining to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the phone in a video shared by ANI.
The Trinamool leader has also accused the Election Commission of not taking action despite a formal complaint by her party. "Have lodged 63 poll related complaints since morning, no action by Election Commission," Ms Banerjee was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Ms Banerjee's party has accused the BJP of booth capture in Nandigram. "Huge mob of BJP workers have entered booth no.s 6, 7, 49, 27, 162, 21, 26, 13, 262, 256, 163, 20. BJP workers attempting to take control of EVM & rigging the booth," Trinamool's Derek O'Brien has written to the Election Commission.
The northeastern state of Assam - where the first phase of polls were held on March 27 along with Bengal - will also see high profile candidates, including a numbers of ministers in the outgoing government, among the 345 candidates in the battle for the 39 seats that go to polls in the second phase.
For Ms Banerjee, and the BJP, the battle for Nandigram is a prestige fight because it was the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in the region that helped her capture power in the state for the first time.
Stray incidents of violence have been reported in Bengal where voting is being held in 30 seats, including the high profile Nandigram constituency, in the second phase of state polls. Stones were thrown at BJP candidate Pritish Ranjan Konar's car in Keshpur. Earlier, a polling agent of the BJP was beaten up allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers in Keshpur, news agency ANI reported.
Trinamool and BJP are contesting in all the 30 seats, while CPI(M) is contesting in 15 and its alliance partners of Sanjukta Morcha the Congress and ISF are competing in 13 and two seats respectively.
In Assam, the ruling BJP is contesting in 34 seats and its allies, the AGP in six and the UPPL in three. The Congress, meanwhile, is contesting in 27 while its partners, the AIUDF, in eight and BPF in four.
Here are the live updates on West Bengal, Assam Elections 2021 Phase 2 Polls:
Bengal Assembly Polls: 82.8% Voter Turnout In Phase 2, 4.3% Less Than 2016
Bengal sees 82.8 per cent voter turnout in Phase 2 of the state Assembly polls - 4.3% lesser than in the Phase 2 elections in 2016.
Assam Assembly Polls: 77.2% Voter Turnout In Phase 2, 5.5% Less Than 2016
Assam registers 77.2 per cent voter turnout in Phase 2 of the state Assembly polls - 5.5% lesser than in the Phase 2 elections in 2016.
Assam Assembly Polls: 73% Voter Turnout Till 5 PM
Assam registers 73 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm in the second phase of the state Assembly polls.
Bengal Assembly Polls: 80.4% Voter Turnout Till 5 PM
Bengal registers over 80 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm in the second phase of the state Assembly polls.
Assam Assembly Polls: 57.89% Voter Turnout Till 3:10 PM
Assam recorded a voter turnout of 57.89 per cent till 3:10 pm across 39 constituencies in 13 districts during the second phase of the state assembly polls, according to the Election Commission (EC), reported news agency ANI.
The Nalbari constituency in the state witnessed the highest voting percentage with a voter turnout of 71 per cent till 3:10 pm, while the Kamalpur constituency witnessed the lowest voting percentage with a voter turnout of just 43.55 per cent.
The second phase of polling for assembly elections in the states of West Bengal and Assam began at 7 am on Thursday and is currently underway.
Earlier, BJP candidate Pritish R Kuar was attacked allegedly by Trinamool workers in Keshpur. "I was going to a booth. There was a QRT of Police in front of our car & behind them was local media. When we reached there, there were 'Trinamooli gundas'. My security took us to car, where goons started hitting us with bricks & lathis," Mr Kuar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Assam Election Live News: BJP has fileded 34 rich candidates, CPM has 1
Bengal phase 2 elections 2021: "Have lodged 63 poll-related complaints since morning," says Mamata Banerjee
Nandigram -- the centrepiece of the Bengal elections, where the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is facing her protege-turned arch rival Suvendu Adhikari -- is voting today in the second phase.
Ms Banerjee, who was monitoring the proceedings from her home in Nandigram, left around 1 pm as leaders of her Trinamool Congress alleged booth capture and rigging by BJP workers.
Alleging that goons "from other states are creating ruckus here", Ms Banerjee said, "I have lodged 63 poll-related complaints since morning, no action has been taken by the Election Commission".
Nandigram poll news: "Appealing to you," Mamata Banerjee complains locals not allowed to vote in call to Governor
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of booth capture in Nandigram where she is contesting against her protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari. A furious Ms Banerjee was seen complaining to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the phone on locals not being allowed to cast vote. "...They didn't allow the local people to cast their vote. From morning I am campaigning...Now I am appealing to you, please see...," she is seen saying in a video shared by ANI.
West Bengal phase 2 election news: 75 lakh voters will decide fate of 191 candidates in 30 seats
In West Bengal, more than 75 lakh voters will decide the fate of 191 candidates in the 30 constituencies for which voting ends at 6.30 pm.
Assam Election phase 2 news: BJP is contesting 34 seats, ally AGP in 6
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021: Polling is taking place in 30 seats in phase 2
The constituencies where polls are being conducted include nine seats each in Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts, eight in Bankura and four in South 24 Parganas.
People wait for their turn at a polling station in West Bengal. 37.4 per cent of the eligible voters in 30 seats have voted till 11 am.
West Bengal voting: 37.4 per cent voter turnout till 11 am
37.4 per cent of the eligible voters in 30 seats in West Bengal have voted till 11 am, data released by the Election Commission show. Meanwhile, 27.55 per cent of the people have voted in Assam.
Assam Assembly election 2021: Heavyweight candidates in phase 2
Assam Assembly election 2021: Congress' Assam Ally Chief Badruddin Ajmal casts vote
All India United Democratic Front President Badruddin Ajmal casts his vote at polling station number 21 in Hojai. Mr Ajmal hit out at the PM Modi and Amit Shah over their call to send Bangladeshi infiltrators back. "PM Modi and Amit Shah have said they'll send Bangladeshi infiltrators back. I want to ask them how many Bangladeshis sent back till now? I challenge them to tell if even 100 Bangladeshis have been sent back in the last 5 yrs. They are the ones who get them here," Mr Ajmal said.
Bengal phase 2 elections 2021: BJP, Trinamool have fielded most candidates with criminal cases
15.7% voter turnout in Bengal, 10.5% in Assam till 9am
15.7 per cent of the eligible voters in 30 seats in West Bengal have voted till 9 am, data released by the Election Commission show. In Assam, only 10.5 per cent of the people have voted so far.
Voters wait for their turn at a polling station in Bokajan LAC.
In Assam, four ministers and the deputy speaker are among the candidates contesting on 39 of the state's 126 seats. In 2016, the BJP won 22 of the seats, the Asom Gana Parishad won two. The Bodoland People's Front, a former BJP ally, had won four seats.
Former MoS Railways & BJP leader Rajen Gohain casts his vote at a polling booth in Nagaon. (ANI)
West Bengal phase 2 voting: 10,620 booths declared as "sensitive"
The Election Commission has declared Bengal's 10,620 booths -- where polling will be held this phase -- as "sensitive". Nandigram has 355 booths. All are sensitive. 22 companies of security forces are deployed in that one seat. There will be aerial survey with drones and helicopters.
West Bengal election phase 2 voting: Mamata Banerjee fights her 'biggest battle' in 40-year political career from Nandigram
For Mamata Banerjee, and the BJP, the battle for Nandigram is a prestige fight because it was the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in the region that helped her capture power in the state for the first time.
Ms Banerjee, who injured her leg in Nandigram the same day she filed her nomination, has been campaigning in a wheelchair. Over the last weeks, she had referred to her religion, her gotra and made multiple temple runs.
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 Phase 2: Suvendu Adhikari joined the BJP in December
Suvendu Adhikari joined the BJP in December, upset with Ms Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee's rapid rise in the party. Since then, he had donned the role of an aggressive right-winger, running a deeply polarising campaign. Around 30 per cent of people Nandigram area are Muslims.
Suvendu Adhikari's father Sishir Adhikari - a minister in Manmohan Singh's government - and one of his two brothers who are local heavyweights - have all joined the BJP.
West Bengal phase 2 news: BJP, Trinamool contesting in 30 seats each, Left in 15
Assam Election Live News: Voting underway with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols
Voters maintain social distancing at a polling booth in Assam. The second phase of polling is taking place amid strict COVID-19 guidelines.
Bengal phase 2 voting: "Whole country looking at Nandigram," says BJP's Suvendu Adhikari
BJP's Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari on his way to a polling booth in the assembly constituency. "I appeal to people to come out in large numbers to cast their vote as the whole country is looking at Nandigram. People are waiting to see if development or politics of appeasement will win here," he says.
Assam election news: 345 candidates, including 26 women, contesting in phase 2
Voters in Assam have turned up in large numbers. The fate of 345 candidates, including 26 women, is being decided by over 73.44 lakh voters in this phase. Among those contesting the elections in this phase are five ministers and the deputy speaker of the outgoing House.
West Bengal phase 2 voting: Thirty constituencies in Bengal are voting today
West Bengal election 2021: Suvendu Adhikari joined the BJP in December
Nandigram is in East Medinipur district, the backyard of Adhikaris - the most prominent political family in the area. Under Mamata Banerjee's directions, Suvendu Adhikari had anchored a popular uprising against a chemical hub in 2007 that had a domino effect and toppled the Left Front after their 34-year-rule in the state.
PM Narendra Modi Urges Bengal To "Strengthen Democracy" As 2nd Phase Vote Begins
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged the people of West Bengal to go out in large numbers and vote for the second phase of the assembly election.
"Second phase of the Assam polls takes place today. Requesting all eligible voters of this phase to strengthen the festival of democracy by exercising their franchise," the Prime Minister tweeted.
"Urging the people of West Bengal in whose seats there is polling taking place today to vote in record numbers," he said in another tweet.
PM Modi also tweeted his vote appeal in Bengali.
Assam Election Live News: BJP's Rupsing Teron vs INC's Rotan Engti in Karbi Anglong
Voters waiting for their turn at a polling station in Karbi Anglong. BJP's Rupsing Teron is contesting against INC's Rotan Engti from the constituency.
Assam pahse 2 voting: Heavy turnout in Rangia constituency
Large number of voters have gathered in Rangia constituency. According to a report, around 15,000 voters in Kamalpur and Rangia constituency have taken pledge to vote under 'Voters Inspire Voters To Vote' campaign.
Assam Assembly Elections 2021: BJP contesting in 34 seats, Congress in 27
A man shows his voter ID at a polling booth in Assam. The ruling BJP is contesting in 34 seats and its allies, the AGP in six and the UPPL in three. The Congress, meanwhile, is contesting in 27 while its partners, the AIUDF, in eight and BPF in four.
Assam Election 2021: Candidate of Congress alliance has "expressed desire" to join BJP, says Himanta Biswa Sarma
BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that a candidate of the Congress alliance has expressed desire to join the BJP and "retire" for the election.
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021: Mock drill at polling booth in Bengal
A mock poll being held at a polling booth in Bankura, West Bengal. 30 seats, including high profile constituency of Nandigram, are going to polls in the second phase.
West Bengal, Assam Elections Phase 2 Live: Vote in record numbers, says PM ModiMinutes after second phase of voting began in Assam and West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people to vote in record numbers.
Voting begins in 30 seats of Bengal, 39 seats of Assam in second phase of polling; Nandigram among key constituencies
Phase 2 polling would begin at 7 am and conclude at 6 pm.
For all the updates on first phase of assembly polls, click
here Thirty constituencies in Bengal and 39 in Assam will vote today.
West Bengal Polls: Ahead of phase 2 polls in Bengal, security forces neutralise 17 crude bombs in West Midnapur
Ahead of the second phase of Assembly Elections in West Bengal, West Midnapore Police and bomb disposal units neutralised 17 crude bombs in a controlled explosion in a field in the Keshpur area on Wednesday, ANI reported.
Trinamool, BJP contesting all 30 seats in second phase Bengal polls
Trinamool Congress and BJP are contesting all 30 seats going to the polls in the second phase polls in West Bengal today.
Among the constituents of Sanyukta Morcha, CPI-M is contesting 15 seats, Congress 9, AIFB 2 and CPI 2, ANI reported.