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LIVE: Cong seeks candidature disqualification of Assam minister Pijush Hazarika
Bengal is witnessing voting in 30 assembly constituencies for the second phase of the election while Assam is voting in 39 assembly constituencies.
Voting across 30 assembly constituencies of West Bengal and 39 constituencies in Assam was conducted in the second phase of assembly elections on Thursday. Over 11 hours into polling, the states recorded a voting percentage of 80.43% and 77.21% respectively, so far.
The Election Commission notified on Thursday evening the second phase was conducted peacefully across 21,212 polling stations which were spread over the total 69 constituencies. ...Read More
The second phase of polls in Bengal witnessed a crucial battle for the Nandigram assembly seat, from where chief minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting for the first time instead of her traditional Bhawanipore seat. While Banerjee seeks to retain the chief minister’s post for the third term, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded her former aide Suvendu Adhikari against her from Nandigram.
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Soon after Banerjee reached a polling booth in the constituency, sloganeering was reported from the station, following which she spoke with the state governor Jagdeep Dhankar to look into the matter. She also alleged that several voters were not being allowed to cast their ballot. The governor has assured her that the issue has been flagged to concerned officials.
Meanwhile, in Assam, over 7.3 million voters decided the fate of 345 candidates. The main electoral battle in the northeastern state is between BJP and Congress. The BJP this time as teamed up with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) while the Congress as a part of the Grand Alliance is fighting the election with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, the Anchalik Gana Marcha (AGM) and the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF).
Follow latest updates on Phase 2 voting here
Cong seeks candidature disqualification of Assam minister Pijush Hazarika
As voting concluded for the second phase of the assembly election in Assam, the Congress Party on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the state's Chief Electoral Officer, seeking candidature disqualification of Assam minister Pijush Hazarika for allegedly threatening journalist, according to news agency ANI.
After Mahua Moitra’s ‘Chotiwala’ barb, Giriraj Singh reacts
As the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have engaged in a squabble over the ‘chotiwala’ jibe, Union fisheries minister and BJP leader Giriaj Singh on Thursday reacted sharply towards TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s recent tweet where she said, “There are chotiwalas and then there are chotiwala rakshasas who refers to gotra of Rohingyas as if it were a term of abuse. Modiji should ask his cabinet minister to refrain from such filth.” Read more
90% of votes have gone to BJP in Nandigram, says Suvendu Adhikari
Expressing confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would emerge victorious in West Bengal's Nandigram constituency, party leader Suvendu Adhikari said on Thursday that 90% of the votes in Nandigram have gone to the BJP.
Polling across assembly constituencies done under strict security cover: Election Commission
The EC added that polling across all assembly constituencies in Phase 2 was conducted under strict security arrangements. "Central Armed Police Forces
(CAPFs) along with the local police force have been deployed to ensure peaceful, intimidation free and conducive atmosphere for the smooth conduct of elections in a free, fair, inclusive and accessible manner," a statement from the Commission read.
Phase-2 of Assam, Bengal assembly polls conducted peacefully, says EC
The Election Commission said on Thursday that the second phase of the assembly elections in Assam and Bengal conducted peacefully across 21,212 polling stations which were spread over 69 assembly seats, ANI reports.
Voter turnout in Bengal goes over 80%, Assam sees 73.09% turnout
The latest update by the Election Commission at 6.06 pm showed that West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 80.43% while Assam saw a turnout of 73.09%.
Worried about democracy, not Nandigram, says Bengal CM Banerjee
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hit out at the Election Commission (EC) and said, "Whatever you (Election Commission) try, BJP will not win. In Nandigram, 90% of the votes will to TMC." Banerjee also said that the TMC had already lodged 63 complaints with the commission adding that she was not worried about her constituency Nandigram but was worried about democracy. "I will win Nandigram with the blessings of 'Maa Maati Manush,' the Bengal CM added.
East Mednipur: ITBP personnel help senior citizens cast vote during second phase of polling
ITBP personnel helps senior citizen to reach a polling booth in West Bengal's Bankura
A personnel from of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was seen helping a senior citizen to reach a polling booth in West Bengal's Bankura to exercise his franchise.
West Bengal records over 71% voter turnout so far, Assam sees 63.04%
Latest updates by the Election Commission at 4.12 pm showed that Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 71.07% while Assam has seen a turnout of 63.04%.
Voters queue up at poll booth in Mayong
Photos from polling stations
A look at Phase 2 Bengal, Assam voting in photos
68.81% voter turnout recorded in Bengal so far, Assam sees 61.86% turnout
As of 3.17 pm, 68.81% voter turnout has been recorded in West Bengal while Assam sees a voter turnout of 61.86%, according to the Election Commission.
TMC acting desperately due to fear of losing, says BJP's Suvendu Adhikari
With polling currently on for the second phase of the assembly election in West Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikrai said on Thursday that the rival Trinamool Congres (TMC) was acting desperately due to the the fear of losing this year's election. "They (TMC) tried to capture two booths but the police observer caught them. They tried to use fake IDs at other booths and now three people have been held," Adhikari said while speaking to reporters, according to news agency ANI.
Locals not being allowed to vote in Nandigram, Bengal CM tells Governor Dhankar
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday phoned state governor Jagdeep Dhankar where she alleged that local people are not being allowed to exercise their franchise in Nandigram, reports ANI. Read more
58.15% voter turnout recorded so far in Bengal, Assam sees 48.26% turnout
As voting for the second phase of assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam continues, 58.15% voter turnout was recorded in Bengal till 1.30 pm in 30 constituencies while Assam saw a turnout of 48.26% till 1 pm in 39 constituencies.
Assam sees peaceful polling in phase two
The situation in Assam was peaceful with a significant number of voters turning up during the morning hours to exercise their franchise in the 39 seats where voting was underway in the second phase on Thursday.
There were reports of EVM glitches from some polling stations and upon their immediate replacement voting continued uninterrupted, an election official said.
29.27% voter turnout recorded till so far in Bengal, Assam sees 21.71%
21.71% and 29.27% voter turnout recorded till 11.17 am in the second phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal, respectively: Election Commission of India
Assam polls: Women turn out in large numbers in morning hours, overall situation peaceful
Long queues were seen outside most of the booths as women stepped out in large numbers during the early hours of polling at 39 seats in the second phase of the assembly elections in Assam.
Though there were reports of EVM glitches from some polling stations, the exact figure was yet to be ascertained, an official said.
No reports of violence so far
There have been no reports of violence or clashes among political activists in the constituency, barring an incident in the Bhimkata area in Nandigram where the BJP candidate faced an agitation by a group of TMC workers who shouted slogans against him, an Election Commission official said.
Mamata to stay for whole day, TMC complains agents not allowed in several booths
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee decided to stay at her war room in the Reyapara area during the polls on Thursday in the Nandigram assembly constituency where she is locked in a fierce prestige battle with confidante-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP.
She is monitoring the situation in the high-profile constituency where polling began at 7 am as local TMC leaders complained of their election agents not being allowed to enter several booths, according to the party sources.
10.51% and 13.14% voter turnout recorded till 9 am
A voter turnout of 13.14 per cent was recorded till 9 am on Thursday in the second phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal.
Paschim Medinipur recorded the highest turnout among districts, while among constituencies, Indus reported the maximum voter turnout.
Suvendu Adhikari appeals people to vote
BJP candidate and Mamata Banerjee's rival stepped out to vote and said,
"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."
Voting begins in Bengal
Polling begins at booth number 137 in Bankura, in the second phase of voting for Assembly elections
