LIVE: Nearly 80% turnout in West Bengal, 73% in Assam as polling ends

Mar 27, 2021, 19:29:27 IST

Assembly Elections 2021 LIVE: In the first phase, voters in 37 assembly constituencies in West Bengal and 40 in Assam are casting voters.

Voters stand in a queue to cast their votes during the first phase of elections in West Bengal in Pirakata, India.

Polling for phase 1 of the assembly elections in the states of West Bengal and Assam ended at 7pm on Saturday. In the first phase, voters in 77 assembly constituencies-30 in West Bengal and 47 in Assam- cast their votes. The two states have 294 and 126 assembly constituencies, respectively....Read More

Click here for all assembly election 2021 updates

The West Bengal assembly elections are scheduled to take place in eight phases, while Assam will vote in three. In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a stiff challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, in office since 2011, seeks a third consecutive term as the chief minister of the state. Meanwhile, in Assam the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is pitted against the Congress-led 'Mahajoth'.

Also Read | Battle for the east kicks off in 1st phase of voting today

Other than West Bengal and Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will also go to polls in a single-phase on April 6. Counting of votes and result declaration for the four states and one Union territory will be held on May 2.

Follow all the updates here:

Mar 27, 2021, 19:28:04 IST

Nearly 80% turnout in Bengal, 73% in Assam as polling ends: EC

Bengal reported 79.79 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of the 2021 Assembly election while Assam reported 73.38 per cent turnout.

Mar 27, 2021, 19:24:45 IST

Visuals from a polling booth in Contai, West Bengal

Mar 27, 2021, 19:18:09 IST

Poll ends for the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections

Mar 27, 2021, 18:42:33 IST

Poll ends for the first phase of Assam assembly elections

Mar 27, 2021, 18:41:09 IST

Over 79% turnout in Bengal, 72% in Assam till 6pm

72.14% and 79.79% voter turnout recorded till 6 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India.

Mar 27, 2021, 17:55:05 IST

In Photos: Voting underway at a polling booth in Contai in the first phase of polling for West Bengal Assembly elections

Mar 27, 2021, 16:44:23 IST

Over 70% turnout in Bengal, 62% in Assam till 4pm

62.36% and 70.17% voter turnout recorded till 4 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India.

Mar 27, 2021, 15:25:59 IST

Over 55% turnout in Bengal, 47% in Assam till 3pm

47.10% and 55.27% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India.

Mar 27, 2021, 15:24:23 IST

BJP delegation meets EC following attack on BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari

Mar 27, 2021, 14:32:33 IST

Sisir Adhikari, father of TMC-turned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, casts his vote

Sisir Adhikari, father of TMC-turned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, casts his vote at a polling booth in Contai, in the first phase of West Bengal elections.

Mar 27, 2021, 14:22:47 IST

54% turnout in Bengal, 45% in Assam till 1:30pm: EC

45.02% and 54.90% voter turnout recorded till 1:30pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India (ECI)

Mar 27, 2021, 14:16:16 IST

Over 37% turnout in Assam, nearly 41% in Bengal till 1pm: EC

37.06% and 40.73% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India (ECI)

Mar 27, 2021, 13:18:58 IST

TMC demands local polling agents from phase 2 onwards

TMC delegation meets West Bengal CEO, demands that from phase 2 onwards, the polling agent must be local of the concerned polling booth.

Mar 27, 2021, 12:47:24 IST

Poll rigging was underway at three booths: Soumendu Adhikari, BJP

Under the leadership of TMC block president Ram Govind Das and his wife poll rigging was underway at three polling booths. My arrival here created problem for them to continue with their mischiefs so they attacked my car and thrashed my driver: Soumendu Adhikari, BJP

Mar 27, 2021, 12:16:11 IST

Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh casts his vote

West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh casts his vote at a polling booth in Jhargram in the first phase of state assembly elections.

Mar 27, 2021, 12:11:48 IST

People know CAA-NRC won't affect them, says Assam CM Sonowal

Congress and other parties are only seen in the media but BJP and its allies are the ones on the ground. People of Assam now know that CAA-NRC will not affect them. My aim is to make the BJP government in the State again: Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal

Mar 27, 2021, 11:52:49 IST

TMC knows it's losing, says BJP Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh

TMC knows that it is losing and that's why it is saying all this. For such complaints, TMC should go to the Election Commission. TMC and Mamata Banerjee are under pressure and that is why they are saying such things: BJP West Bengal Pres Dilip Ghosh on TMC alleging rigging of polls

Mar 27, 2021, 11:28:24 IST

TMC alleges 'discrepancy' in voter turnout app

Voter turnout for ACs Kanthi Dakshin (216) and Kanthi Uttar (213) at 9:13am was 18.47% and18.95% respectively, 4 mins later at 9:17am voter turnout reduced to 10.60%and 9:40%. Such discrepancy raises question on genuineness of data issued by EC: TMC's Derek O'Brien writes to EC

Mar 27, 2021, 11:16:43 IST

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi casts vote

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, son of late former CM Tarun Gogoi, casts his vote at polling both in Jorhat. "It's a very emotional moment for me as it's the first time after many years that I'm coming to a polling station without my parents," says Gogoi.

Mar 27, 2021, 11:14:50 IST

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal casts vote

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal casts vote at polling booth in Dibrugarh, says that the BJP will win "more than 100 seats."

Mar 27, 2021, 10:50:09 IST

BJP delegation to meet West Bengal CEO at 2pm

BJP delegation, led by state in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, to meet West Bengal chief electoral officer (CEO) at 2pm today.

Mar 27, 2021, 10:24:09 IST

10-member TMC delegation to meet EC at 12pm

10-member TMC Parliamentary delegation led by Sudip Bandyopadhyay, leader Lok Sabha and Derek O'Brien, leader Rajya Sabha to meet Election Commission in Kolkata at 12 noon.

Mar 27, 2021, 09:42:22 IST

Bengal's daughter will defeat traitor, says TMC's O'Brien

TMC will win Bengal. Bengal's daughter will defeat Bengal's traitor in his own backyard at Nandigram, members of tourist gang will continue to do what they do best - try and destroy institutions in India. Women in Bengal will continue to wear sarees any way they want: Derek O'Brien, TMC leader on BJP's Suvendu Adhikari

Mar 27, 2021, 09:19:29 IST

Over 6% and 2% polling in Assam, Bengal in first two hours

Assam records 6.69% turnout while Bengal sees 2.44% polling in the first two hours across 47 and 30 assembly constituencies, respectively, in phase 1 of polls.

Mar 27, 2021, 09:07:17 IST

TMC scared, says BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari

We approached EC that there should be free and fair polls. People will choose whom they want. TMC is scared. We've given name of one Alauddin to EC, he creates disturbance there: BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari, brother of party's Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari

Mar 27, 2021, 08:48:53 IST

TMC workers trying to create disturbance, alleges BJP candidate

Voting underway smoothly in Midnapore town. But, at some places in rural areas, TMC workers are trying to create a disturbance. At booth no. 266 and 267, seven-eight TMC workers entered the booth to influence the voters. We've complained to EC: Samit Das, BJP candidate from West Midnapore

Mar 27, 2021, 08:39:37 IST

Mamata Banerjee tweets as polling begins in Bengal

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee appeals to voters to exercise their democratic rights by voting in large numbers.

Mar 27, 2021, 08:18:08 IST

HM Amit Shah requests voters to cast votes in large numbers

Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi, Bengali and Assamese, urging voters to cast their votes in large numbers as phase 1 polling began in the two states.

Mar 27, 2021, 07:57:50 IST

Large turnout in Assam's Nagaon

Nagaon district in Assam witnesses large voter turnout as first phase of polling gets underway.

Mar 27, 2021, 07:38:34 IST

Scene from a polling booth in Assam's Dibrugarh

Voters waiting in a queue at a polling station in JP Nagar, Dibrugarh, as polling gets underway for the first phase of Assembly elections

Mar 27, 2021, 07:17:04 IST

Exercise right to franchise in record numbers: PM Modi

I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today in West Bengal to exercise their franchise in record numbers.

Mar 27, 2021, 07:15:30 IST

PM Modi tweets as polling begins in Assam

PM Modi urges voters to vote in "record numbers" as first phase of voting begins in Assam.

Mar 27, 2021, 07:01:11 IST

509 'vulnerable' booths set up in East Midnapore, says official

We've 509 vulnerable booths in our district. We've deployed 169 companies. We're monitoring booths with CAPF & non-CPF measures. Over 50% of polling booths have webcasting facility & CCTV, videographer. We've 800 micro-observers for phase 1: District election officer, East Midnapore

Mar 27, 2021, 06:45:58 IST

First phase of voting to begin at 7am

First phase of polling in both West Bengal and Assam will begin at 7am, and conclude at 6pm. Total 77 assembly constituencies-30 in West Bengal and 47 in Assam-will cast their votes.