LIVE: Nearly 80% turnout in West Bengal, 73% in Assam as polling ends
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
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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.
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.
Visuals from a polling booth in Contai, West Bengal
Poll ends for the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections
Poll ends for the first phase of Assam assembly elections
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.
In Photos: Voting underway at a polling booth in Contai in the first phase of polling for West Bengal Assembly elections
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.
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.
BJP delegation meets EC following attack on BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari
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.
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)
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)
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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."
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Large turnout in Assam's Nagaon
Nagaon district in Assam witnesses large voter turnout as first phase of polling gets underway.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
