Assembly elections: Over 80% voter turnout till 5:30 pm in West Bengal

Photo: BJP@Twitter

New Delhi: The poling for the second of the eight-phase assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam began on Thursday (April 1) amid tight security arrangements put in place by the Election Commission. In West Bengal, all eyes are on Nandigram from where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is locking horns with Suvendu Adhikari.

As per the Election Commission of India, Assam has recorded 74.69% voter turnout and over 80% polling was recorded in West Bengal till 5 pm in the second phase.

In West Bengal, 30 constituencies across four districts went to polls in this phase of the eight-phased election, which began on 27 March. Importantly, the district of South 24 Parganas saw its first round of polling in this phase. South 24 Parganas will complete polling in three phases, more than any other district in the state.

The second phase of the election saw the most high-profile electoral contest this election season in Nandigram, part of the East Midnapore district. Contesting from the constituency is Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and her once protege, Suvendu Adhikari, now contesting for the BJP.

A total of 171 candidates are in the fray in the upcoming phase which will see 30 constituencies across four districts go to polls. The total number of voters who exercised their franchise stand at 75,94,549. 

In Assam, a total of 39 assembly constituencies spanned over 13 districts of the Barak Valley, three hill districts, and parts of central and lower Assam voted today. The fate of 345 candidates, including 26 women, is being decided by over 73.44 lakh voters in this phase.

Voting in West Bengal and Assam began around 7 am. PM Modi has urged the voters to vote in record numbers in West Bengal and Assam.

Follow Zee News for all the latest updates on 2nd phase of voting in West Bengal and Assam

01 April 2021

22:10 IST

90% of the votes have gone to BJP in Nandigram, claims Suvendu Adhikari

22:10 IST

Congress party submits a memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer, Assam seeking candidature disqualification of State Minister Pijush Hazarika for allegedly threatening a news reporter.

17:50 IST

80.43 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5:30 pm in the second phase of West Bengal assembly polls.

16:55 IST

Sometimes Didi calls me a tourist, sometimes an outsider. Didi, you consider infiltrators as your own but call children of Bharat Mata as outsiders. Didi, stop distinguishing people and insulting the Constitution by labelling people as outsiders: PM Modi

16:48 IST

Didi, is there any truth in the rumour that you are going to file nomination from another constituency? First, you went there (Nandigram), and people gave you an answer. If you go somewhere else, people of Bengal are ready: PM Modi in Uluberia

15:41 IST

Bharatiya Janata Party releasesd a list of star campaigners who will campaign for by-election to the Salt legislative assembly constituency in Uttarakhand.

15:14 IST

63.03% polling in Assam, 71.07% polling in West Bengal, till 3:31 pm: Election Commission

15:13 IST

Mamata Didi has issues with 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan. Entire Bengal knows it. Didi has issues with Durga idol immersion. Entire Bengal knows it. Didi has now problems with vermillion & saffron cloth. Didi's men now call 'chotiwalas' as rakshasas: PM Modi

15:01 IST

PM Narendra Modi: BJP wave blowing across West Bengal, the party will win over 200 seats. 

I can witness the wave of আসল পরিবর্তন being sped up by this region.

In the record-breaking turnout in the first phase, people have given massive support to the BJP.

- PM Shri @narendramodi#EbarSonarBanglaEbarBJP pic.twitter.com/TSX5EHtwZL

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 1, 2021

14:58 IST

PM Modi in West Bengal: We aren't people who're seasonally religious. We're always proud of our religious sentiments. Didi has forgotten the people of Bengal only to support and appease infiltrators.

We aren't people who're seasonally religious. We're always proud of our religious sentiments.

Didi has forgotten the people of Bengal only to support and appease infiltrators.

- PM Shri @narendramodi#EbarSonarBanglaEbarBJP pic.twitter.com/LbSQjtp5Px

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 1, 2021

14:55 IST

PM Narendra Modi in West Bengal's Jayanagar: Didi's behaviour, her language and her fussiness is a constant debate for the people of Bengal. You've betrayed Bengal and now you're insulting the rich culture and tradition of Bengal.

14:54 IST

West Bengal: Goons from other states creating ruckus here, we will move court as EC not taking action, says CM Mamata Banerjee at Nandigram.

13:33 IST

West Bengal: TMC's Derek O Brien writes to EC alleging booth capture by BJP workers in Nandigram Assembly Constituency. 

12:39 IST

Assam records 33.24% polling, West Bengal 37.42%  till 1.02 pm.

12:35 IST

Assam: Congress leader Sushmita Dev while casting her vote at a polling station in Silchar. She said that the grand alliance is an inclusive alliance and that BJP is a communal alliance. (ANI inputs)

Assam: Congress leader Sushmita Dev casts her vote at a polling station in Silchar

"Mahajot (grand alliance) is an inclusive alliance. BJP is a communal alliance," she says pic.twitter.com/btcvuzPLwz

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

12:10 IST

West Bengal: The voter turnout for the second phase of state Assembly polls has increased to 37.42 per cent till 11:31 am.

11:46 IST

West Bengal's Keshpur: BJP's woman polling agent at booth no 173 allegedly beaten up by TMC workers. 

WB: A woman polling agent of BJP at booth no.173 in Keshpur beaten up allegedly by TMC workers today. Local BJP leader Tanmay Ghosh's car vandalised

Free&fair polls not being conducted here as TMC causing violence.Central forces inactive:BJP candidate from Keshpur assembly seat pic.twitter.com/isI84YUEFH

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

11:21 IST

Election Commission of India: 21.71% and 29.27% voter turnout recorded till 11:17 am in the second phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal, respectively.

11:18 IST

Assam: Electors clicked while voting in the second phase of polling in the northeastern state's assembly election. 

Phase II polling begins today in Assam, 1st April 2021. Few glimpses of voters, including Pwd voters, from Laharighat, Morigaon, Jagiroad and Udalguri LACs. #AssamElection2021 #AssemblyElection2021 @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @diprassam pic.twitter.com/N50kOdIEe0

— CEO Assam (@ceo_assam) April 1, 2021

11:17 IST

West Bengal: BJP's heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari exuded confidence that the state's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lose badly in Nandigram. The BJP leader said this after casting his vote early as polling for the second phase of the assembly election began on Thursday morning.

10:46 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah appeals to the people of West Bengal and Assam to vote in large numbers. "A special appeal to our young voters to exercise their franchise for a peaceful and self-reliant Assam," Shah said.

Today is the second phase of polling in Assam and I appeal to everyone to cast their vote without fail.

A special appeal to our young voters to exercise their franchise for a peaceful and self-reliant Assam.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 1, 2021

10:37 IST

West Bengal: Hours before polling started for the second phase of the assembly election in West Bengal, a Trinamool Congress worker was allegedly stabbed to death by unidentified miscreants in Paschim Medinipur, police said on Thursday.

10:27 IST

Assam's Hojai: All India United Democratic Front President Badruddin Ajmal casts his vote at polling station number 21.

Assam: All India United Democratic Front President Badruddin Ajmal casts his vote at polling station number 21 in Hojai#AssamAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/fp4T08fkEI

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

10:17 IST

Assam records 10.51%, West Bengal 13.14% voter turnout till 9 am in the second phase of polling.

10:12 IST

West Bengal: Ruckus reported near a polling booth in Debra. 

10:12 IST

In Assam, 10.51 per cent voter turnout till 9.30 am in the second phase.

10:08 IST

Former MoS Railways and BJP leader Rajen Gohain cast his vote at a polling booth in Nagaon, Assam. "BJP will get over 35 seats out of the total 47 in the 1st phase. In the 2nd phase too, we'll get many seats. BJP will undoubtedly form the government with more than 75 seats," he said as per ANI.

09:48 IST

'Confident that Mamata will lose': Suvendu Adhikari says after casting his vote in Nandigram. 

09:47 IST

16 per cent voter turnout recorded till 9 AM in 30 seats in West Bengal where polling is underway for the second phase, reports PTI.

09:45 IST

Unidentified miscreants killed a TMC worker with a sharp weapon last night, at Dadpur village in West Midnapore district. SP West Midnapore says, "Eight people arrested in connection with the murder."

West Bengal: Unidentified miscreants killed a TMC worker with a sharp weapon last night, at Dadpur village in West Midnapore district. SP West Midnapore says, "Eight people arrested in connection with the murder." pic.twitter.com/4pbQRCTa6s

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

09:35 IST

Voters being screened with a temperature gun, given hand sanitiser & hand gloves as they arrive at polling booths for the second phase of Assam Assembly Polls. Visuals from a polling booth in Nagaon.

Voters being screened with a temperature gun, given hand sanitiser & hand gloves as they arrive at polling booths for the second phase of #AssamAssemblyPolls. Visuals from a polling booth in Nagaon. pic.twitter.com/E0AgJzDHme

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

09:34 IST

BJP, TMC workers clash outside a polling booth in Debra assembly constituency in Paschim Medinipur.

09:25 IST

Bharti Ghosh, BJP candidate from Debra constituency, alleges, "1 and my polling agent has been surrounded by 150 TMC goons at booth no 22. He hasn't been allowed to enter the polling booth. In Barunia, voters are being threatened and shown the TMC symbol in Nowpara.''

09:24 IST

BJP local leader Tanmay Ghosh's car vandalised in West Bengal

09:18 IST

BJP polling agent at Keshpur’s booth 173 allegedly beaten up by the TMC cadres. She has been rushed to Keshpur hospital.

09:15 IST

The ruling BJP is contesting 34 seats in Assam, while its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is fighting in six constituencies and the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) in three.

09:14 IST

ITBP troops guard polling booths in East Midnapore district and help out senior citizens there, during the second phase of West Bengal elections 2021.

Voting for the second phase of #AssamAssemblyPolls underway at polling station 23-26 at Nowgong Law College in Nagaon pic.twitter.com/KDQqJ850mP

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

08:02 IST

Here are some more visuals of voting for the second phase of Assam Assembly Polls which is underway at polling station 23-26 at Nowgong Law College in Nagaon.

Voting for the second phase of #AssamAssemblyPolls underway at polling station 23-26 at Nowgong Law College in Nagaon pic.twitter.com/KDQqJ850mP

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

08:02 IST

Here are some more visuals of voting for the second phase of Assam Assembly Polls which is underway at polling station 23-26 at Nowgong Law College in Nagaon.

Voting for the second phase of #AssamAssemblyPolls underway at polling station 23-26 at Nowgong Law College in Nagaon pic.twitter.com/KDQqJ850mP

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

08:02 IST

Here are some more visuals of voting for the second phase of Assam Assembly Polls which is underway at polling station 23-26 at Nowgong Law College in Nagaon.

Voting for the second phase of #AssamAssemblyPolls underway at polling station 23-26 at Nowgong Law College in Nagaon pic.twitter.com/KDQqJ850mP

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

08:01 IST

Earlier, on his way to a polling booth in the Nandigram assembly constituency, Suvendu said, "Voting is underway, the situation is under control. People are hoping for development." 

08:01 IST

BJP's Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari casts his vote at booth no 76 in Nandigram.

07:47 IST

PM Narendra Modi urges voters to vote in record numbers in West Bengal and Assam.

Urging the people of West Bengal in whose seats there is polling taking place today to vote in record numbers.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 1, 2021

07:47 IST

Voting has been delayed at polling station number 26 at Nowgong Law College in Nagaon, due to EVM malfunction, reports ANI.

07:40 IST

BJP's Suvendu Adhikari reaches booth no 76 to cast his vote in Nandigram. 

07:19 IST

Polling begins at booth number 137 in Bankura, in the second phase of voting for West Bengal Assembly elections.

#WestBengalElections2021 | Polling begins at booth number 137 in Bankura, in the second phase of voting for Assembly elections pic.twitter.com/BrcmczzsJZ

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

07:18 IST

In Assam, a total of 39 assembly constituencies spanned over 13 districts of the Barak Valley, three hill districts, and parts of central and lower Assam will go to polls today.

07:18 IST

In phase 11 of West Bengal assembly elections, a total of 30 constituencies from the districts of South 24 Parganas, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur will vote today.

07:17 IST

Polling for second phase of Assembly elections begins in West Bengal and Assam. 

22:40 IST

BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda targeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her letter to opposition leaders for "a united and effective struggle against the BJP`s attacks on democracy and constitution" and said it was an attempt to "save her sinking ship" in the West Bengal assembly polls. Nadda said Mamata Banerjee has admitted that "she is in trouble" in the election, Nadda told ANI. 

22:35 IST

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that BJP leaders were distributing large sums of money running into crores of rupees to influence electoral outcome. Her party also wrote to the West Bengal Chief Electoral officer alleging BJP's Suvendu Adhikari is harbouring criminals at different locations. (PTI)