Stray incidents of violence were reported from some areas where voting is underway for the seventh phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, though the overall polling process has been peaceful in the state. 75.06 per cent of the 81 lakh electors have voted till 5 pm. Trinamool MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Nusrat Ruhi were among the early high-profile voters. Thirty-four assembly constituencies spread across five districts are voting today in the seventh phase of the eight-phased election. Among these, six are in Dakshin Dinajpur, six in Malda, nine in Murshidabad, nine in Paschim Bardhaman and four in Kolkata.
In Bhowanipore, the home turf of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool has fielded party heavyweight Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay. Ms Banerjee has chosen Nandigram in this election in place of Bhowanipore.
Over 81.88 lakh electorates, including 39.87 lakh women, will decide the fate of 268 candidates. Key candidates to watch out in this phase are actor Rudranil Ghosh (who is standing from Bhowanipore on BJP ticket) and state minister Firhad Hakim, who is contesting from the Kolkata Port constituency.
Shortly after polling began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to follow all Covid protocols. "The seventh phase of the West Bengal elections takes place today. Urging people to exercise their franchise and follow all COVID-19 related protocols," PM Modi tweeted.
Ruling Trinamool Congress and BJP are contesting on all 34 seats.
Congress, the Left parties and the Indian Secular Front (ISF) have made a coalition and are contesting under the banner of Sanyukta Morcha. Out of the 34 seats in this round, Congress has got 18 in its share, CPI(M) got 12, RSP three, AIFB got one and ISF has got four seats.
Bahujan Samaj Party is also trying its luck and has fielded 25 candidates.