Violence breaks out in Hoogly as fourth phase of WB polls end

Pic Courtesy: ANI

KOLKATA: Polling for 44 seats in the fourth phase of the West Bengal assembly election 2021 began at 7 AM on Saturday (April 10, 2021) amid tight security.

In the first three phases, 91 seats went to polls — 30 seats in phase one on March 27, 30 seats in phase two on April 1, and 31 seats in phase three on April 6. Now, the fourth phase will see a bipolar contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 44 assembly seats spread across five districts of West Bengal.

The constituencies going to polls in the fourth phase are spread over Howrah (Part II), South 24 Parganas (Part III), Hooghly (Part II), Alipurduar and Coochbehar. For 44 seats, 373 candidates are in the fray including some of the prominent personalities like former cricketer Manoj Tiwary, Bollywood singer and BJP MP Babul Supriyo, Locket Chaterjee, Payel Sarkar, and former minister Rajib Banerjee.

The significant aspect in this phase is BJP candidate Rudranil Ghosh is contesting from Bhabanipur constituency, where  CM Mamata Banerjee won in the last assembly elections in West Bengal in 2016. Among the most high-profile contests, one is the Tollygunge constituency, where BJP has fielded Union Minister Babul Supriyo against sitting TMC MLA Aroop Biswas. Biswas, also a minister in the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal cabinet has been representing the Tollygunge Assembly constituency for the last three terms.

It is worth mentioning, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan campaigned for TMC candidate Aroop Biswas. Meanwhile, CPI(M) has fielded Debdut Ghosh from the seat.

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10 April 2021

19:29 IST

Locals in Hoogly attacked BJP leader Locket Chatterjee's car as the WB assembly polls came to an end. 

#WATCH BJP leader Locket Chatterjee's car attacked by locals in Hoogly during the fourth phase of West Bengal assembly elections #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/aQAgzWI94v

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

17:37 IST

75.93% voter turnout recorded till 5:24 pm in the West Bengal Assembly election, the Election commission reported.

17:35 IST

"I will be going to Mathabhanga hospital tomorrow at 10 am and from there I will go to Alipurduar. I couldn't go to Cooch Behar today due to Model Code of Conduct as polling is going on there," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in Siliguri.

17:16 IST

"I believe, this incident (firing incident in Cooch Behar) is pre-planned. I will order an investigation into the matter," The WB Chief Minister said.

17:07 IST

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri said, "Home Minister Amit Shah is completely responsible for today's incident and he himself is the conspirator. I don't blame central forces because they work under Home Minister's order."

17:04 IST

The Prime Minister said at the rally, "Handicraft, business, marketing, investment aren't among TMC's priorities. Didi's TMC is an expert in 'tolabaazi'. Didi's TMC is an expert in cut-money. Didi's TMC is an expert in killing BJP workers. Didi's TMC is an expert in rigging." 

17:04 IST

"The reason behind Didi's anger is not only BJP & Modi but the people whose trust Didi has broken... The minority community that Didi persuaded are at distress so she needs to appeal to them continuously," says PM Modi.

16:31 IST

The Prime Minister said, "Didi abuses EC, CAPF, EVM.. to the extent, that Didi is abusing her own party's polling agents now. She is so desperate that she is defaming Bengal's voters. Didi, o Didi! People of Bengal don't expect you to have sensitivity any more."

16:29 IST

"This election of Bengal is not only being fought by BJP, people of Bengal are also fighting this election," PM Narendra Modi said.

16:17 IST

"After a wait for decades, the 'mahayagya' of 'ashol poribortan' has started in Bengal. This 'mahayagya' will teach a lesson to appeasers," PM Narendra Modi said in Krishnanagar.

16:11 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Krishnanagar, West Bengal where he will address a public rally.

15:55 IST

Trinamool Congress (TMC) writes to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal over "Cold-blooded murder of four and brutal injury of three innocent people by Central Forces."

15:54 IST

66.76% voter turnout recorded till 3:39 pm, news agency ANI reported.

15:29 IST

Sourav Ganguly cast his vote at a polling booth in Barisha Shashibhusan Janakalyan Vidyapith, Behala, South 24 Paraganas.

14:18 IST

Cooch Behar violence: Election Commission has adjourned the poll in PS 126 of Sitalkurchi AC, Cooch Behar based on interim report from Special Observers. Detailed reports are sought from them and CEO by 5 pm today.

14:06 IST

Election Commission stops polling at Sitalkuchi polling station. 

14:06 IST

Over 52% voter turnout was recorded in the fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls till 2 PM, as per EC data. 

13:13 IST

"Regarding recent incident being reported in media about killing of 4 civilians outside booth 126, Jorpatki in Sitalkuchi Assembly Constituency, Cooch Behar, it's clarified that CRPF component was neither deployed at the said booth nor involved in the incident in any way," CRPF as quoted by ANI. 

Regarding recent incident being reported in media about killing of 4 civilians outside booth 126, Jorpatki in Sitalkuchi Assembly Constituency, Cooch Behar, it's clarified that CRPF component was neither deployed at the said booth nor involved in the incident in any way: CRPF

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

13:09 IST

What happened in Cooch Behar is very saddening. My sympathies are with the families of those who died, I condole their demise. Didi and her goons are perturbed, seeing the people's support for BJP. She has stooped to this level as she can see her chair slipping away: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an election rally in Siliguri. 

"I urge EC to take stern action against those responsible for Cooch Behar incident," he added.

"Didi never got angry with 'tolabaj' (extortionists) but she's livid at security forces protecting democratic rights of people," the PM said slamming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

11:57 IST

4 persons died after Central force jawans reportedly open fired at Coochbehar’s Sitalkuchi. According to reports, TMC and BJP cadres clashed with each other when CAPF jawans opened fire. All four dead are TMC workers.

11:46 IST

4 dead as CISF allegedly opened fire after coming under attack in Sitalkuchi in Bengal's Cooch Behar district, PTI quoted police sources as saying. 

11:34 IST

16.65% voter turnout was recorded till 11:05 am. Voting for the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway. (ANI input)

11:04 IST

ITBP personnel, deployed on election duty, at polling booths in Rishra of Hooghly district helped an elderly woman as she arrived to cast her vote for the fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections. 

ITBP personnel, deployed on election duty, at polling booths in Rishra of Hooghly district help an elderly woman as she arrives to cast her vote for the fourth phase of #WestBengalPolls. pic.twitter.com/Ib4WVOmU3O

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

11:02 IST

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee called an Election Commission official and told him that she was 'attacked by locals' at polling booth no.66 in Hooghly. She said that journalists were also attacked and demanded additional forces be sent to the region. 

#WATCH West Bengal: BJP leader Locket Chatterjee speaks to an Election Commission official over phone, says that she was attacked by locals at polling booth no.66 in Hooghly. She also says that journalists have been attacked too and demands that additional forces be sent here. pic.twitter.com/rrgGpFxfHT

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

10:58 IST

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee's car was reportedly attacked by locals in Hoogly during the fourth phase of West Bengal assembly elections. Many media vehicles covering the polling were also attacked, as per ANI report. 

#WATCH BJP leader Locket Chatterjee's car attacked by locals in Hoogly during the fourth phase of West Bengal assembly elections #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/aQAgzWI94v

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

10:55 IST

A first-time voter was shot dead by unidentified persons outside a polling booth in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district on Saturday (April 10). The Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that the BJP was behind the killing, while the saffron party claimed that the deceased was its polling agent at the booth and accused TMC for his murder. The youth, identified as Anand Burman, was dragged outside polling booth number 85 in Pathantuli area of Sitalkuchi while voting was underway and shot dead.

10:31 IST

"Narendra Modi Ji is famous throughout the world. Prashant Kishor has done the work of putting the last nail in the coffin, finishing TMC," Cooch Behar MP Nisith Pramanik was quoted as saying by ANI. 

10:04 IST

West Bengal Assembly polls: 15.85% voter turnout recorded till 9:30 AM in the fourth phase of voting for 44 seats. 

08:56 IST

The BJP candidate from Kolkata's Tollygunge, Babul Supriyo arrived at Gandhi Colony Bharati Balika Vidyalaya, where the party's polling agent was reportedly denied entry. Talking to reporters Supriyo said, "He has ID but wasn't being allowed by Presiding Officer. We showed his details from website. He's allowed now."

"The biggest challenge is to remove Mamata Didi and TMC from West Bengal. Aroop Biswas (TMC candidate from the constituency) has been the right hand of all her works. So is a challenge to change the atmosphere of terror here," he added. 

The biggest challenge is to remove Mamata Didi and TMC from West Bengal. Aroop Biswas (TMC candidate from the constituency) has been the right hand of all her works. So is a challenge to change the atmosphere of terror here: BJP candidate from Tollygunge, Kolkata Babul Supriyo pic.twitter.com/DiAiuzUfYj

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

08:55 IST

TMC candidate from Natabari constituency in Cooch Behar, Rabindra Nath Ghosh was spotted wearing a helmet this morning. He said, "I am wearing this to avoid any untoward incident." 

TMC candidate from Natabari constituency in Cooch Behar, Rabindra Nath Ghosh seen wearing a helmet this morning. He says, "I am wearing this to avoid any untoward incident."#WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/rxNWOLvMD8

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

08:53 IST

A security personnel helps a woman elector get to a polling station in Alipurduar, as the voting during the fourth phase of Assembly elections is underway. 

West Bengal: A security personnel helps a woman voter get to a polling station in Alipurduar, as the fourth phase of Assembly elections are underway pic.twitter.com/50Z9jAMjYc

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

08:43 IST

Long queue of voters was present at a polling station in Kulberia Dharmatala F.P. School, Bhangar, South 24 Parganas to cast their votes in the fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls. 

West Bengal: Long queue of voters at a polling station in
Kulberia Dharmatala F.P. School, Bhangar, South 24 Parganas pic.twitter.com/2h3a5bdP7I

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

08:27 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the voters in the fourth phase of the West Bengal election to cast their votes in record numbers. "As the 4th phase of the West Bengal elections begin, urging the people voting today to do so in record numbers. I would especially request the youth and women to vote in large numbers," the PM wrote on Twitter. 

07:50 IST

TMC wrote to the Election Commission (EC) alleging, "across several booths in Sitalkuchi, Natalbari, Tufanganj and Dinhata, BJP goons are creating a ruckus outside the booth and preventing TMC agents from entering the booth." TMC has demanded necessary action from the poll body. (ANI input)

07:40 IST

Voting for the fourth phase of West Bengal Elections 2021 is underway. Visuals from Bhetaguri Lal Bahadur Shastri High School in Dinhata of Cooch Behar district.

People queue up to cast their votes for the fourth phase of #WestBengalElections2021. Visuals from Bhetaguri Lal Bahadur Shastri High School, designated as a polling booth, in Dinhata of Cooch Behar district. pic.twitter.com/iwhhz5fhw5

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

06:38 IST

Voters queue up at a polling station to cast their votes in Bhangar Assembly constituency of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. Voting for the fourth phase of Assembly elections will commence at 7 AM. 

#WestBengalElections: Voters queue up at a polling station to cast their votes in Bhangar Assembly constituency of South 24 Parganas district.

Voting for the fourth phase of Assembly elections will commence at 7 am. pic.twitter.com/4iUxT6RqGJ

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021