New Delhi: 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:
Apr 29, 2021 13:42 (IST)
The voting exercise will continue till 6.30 pm. The eight-phase elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly began on March 27. Votes will be counted on Sunday.
Apr 29, 2021 11:42 (IST)
The election is the greatest festival in democracy, we both voted. COVID-19 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.
Apr 29, 2021 11:26 (IST)
As many as 283 candidates, including 35 women, are in the fray in the last phase of the assembly elections where polling is being held in 35 constituencies in four districts. The 35 constituencies are spread across four districts. Among these, six are in Malda, eleven in Birbhum, eleven in Murshidabad, and seven in Kolkata. Over 84.77 lakh electorates, including 41.21 lakh women and 158 third gender persons, would be casting their votes at as many as 11,860 polling stations in phase VIII.
Apr 29, 2021 11:13 (IST)
An approximate 15.44 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 9:30 am as the eighth and the final phase of West Bengal assembly elections is underway on Thursday, according to the Election Commission. Voting for the last phase of West Bengal assembly elections began at 7 am and will continue till 6:30 am. Meanwhile, voting began with a half an hour delay due to a glitch in the EVM, at polling booth number 188 in Birbhum.
Apr 29, 2021 10:48 (IST)
In Malda's English Bazar constituency, BJP has fielded women rights activist Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury against TMC candidate Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury and CPI(M)'s Koushik Mishra. In the Mothabari constituency, TMC's sitting MLA Sabina Yeasmin has an edge over BJP's Shyam Chand Ghosh and Congress candidate Md Dulal Sekh. There is a head-to-head contest between Congress' Md Mottakin Alam and TMC's Sabitri Mitra in the Manikchak constituency. Gour Chand Mandal is the BJP candidate from the seat.
Apr 29, 2021 10:40 (IST)
Crude bombs were hurled in front of Mahajati Sadan in central Kolkata today while elections were underway in the area, police said. The incident happened on Central Avenue in the heart of the city, triggering panic among the people, they said. BJP's Jorasanko candidate Meena Devi Purohit alleged that the crude bombs were hurled at her vehicle while she was touring different polling booths.
