Stray incidents of violence were reported today 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 75.7 per cent turnout till 5 pm, Election Commission officials said.
Voting is being held in 11,860 polling stations of 35 constituencies -- 11 each in Murshidabad and Birbhum, six in Malda and seven in north Kolkata.
One person was killed and two others injured as a car hit them in Murshidabad district, hours before the polling exercise began, triggering tension in the area, a police officer said earlier in the day.
BJP candidate Meena Devi Purohit alleged that the bombs were thrown at her vehicle while she was touring different polling booths.
A huge police contingent was rushed to the spot to control the situation.
Long queues were seen outside most polling booths since early morning, raising concern over the spread of COVID-19, even as the Election Commission gave assurance that all precautionary measures are in place.
Bengal registered its highest single-day spike of 17,207 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, while 77 more people succumbed to the disease.
Over 84.77 lakh voters will decide the political fate of 283 candidates in this phase.
The eight-phase elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly began on March 27. Votes will be counted on Sunday.
Here are the Live Updates On West Bengal Phase 8 Polling:
West Bengal: TMC MP Dr. Santanu Sen, who was tested positive for COVID19, cast his vote at a polling station in Sarbamangala Vidyamandir Kashipur, Belgachia, North Kolkata pic.twitter.com/eOjH5drHvy
- ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
#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
Voting began with a half an hour delay due to a glitch in the EVM, at polling booth number 188 in Birbhum.
- ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
Voters are casting their votes for the eighth and final phase of #WestBengalElections today. pic.twitter.com/eXIp3aZf58
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
Last phase of the 2021 West Bengal elections takes place today. In line with the COVID-19 protocols, I call upon people to cast their vote and enrich the festival of democracy.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 29, 2021
Voters form queues outside polling booth number 23/24 in Malda; voting for the eighth and last phase of #WestBengalPolls will begin at 7 am today. pic.twitter.com/PgunPzWjtx
- ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
Voters queue up outside a polling booth in Shantiniketan, Bolpur; polling for the eighth and last phase of #WestBengalPolls will commence at 7 am today. pic.twitter.com/jIBvZqvt8c
- ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
