West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: EC imposes strict curbs on poll campaigns

West Bengal election live updates: Prominent names in the sixth phase of the Assembly polls include BJP's national vice president Mukul Roy. Stay tuned for Bengal election latest updates

8:47 PM

Polling peaceful in 14,480 booths spread across 43 constituencies, says EC

Polling was today conducted peacefully in14,480 polling stations spread across 43 Assembly Constituencies, in the sixth phase of elections in West Bengal. Voters set an example of Covid-appropriate behaviour following due protocols of sanitization and social distancing. Voter Turnout of 79.09 per cent was reported by 5 pm for Phase 6 of elections today. Read full release here

8:26 PM

Bengal polls LIVE: EC allows public meetings with not more than 500 people

7:05 PM

West Bengal: PM Modi to virtually address people of the state at 5 pm tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address people of West Bengal through a virtual medium at 5 pm tomorrow

6:57 PM

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: 79.09% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in sixth phase

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: 79.09% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in sixth phase, according to the election commission

6:27 PM

West Bengal election: Creche arrangement made for children of electors at a polling station

5:36 PM

LIVE: PM cancels Bengal visit tomorrow over meetings on Covid situation

LIVE: PM cancels Bengal visit tomorrow over meetings on Covid situation

5:02 PM

Aged voter on the way to cast her vote at a polling station on Purba Bardhaman District

4:44 PM

West Bengal election: Stray violence marks sixth phase of polling

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported on Thursday from various parts of West Bengal where voting is underway for the sixth phase of assembly elections, officials said.

 

Elections, which began at 7 am, are being held in 43 assembly seats -- 17 in North 24 Parganas district, nine each in Nadia and Uttar Dinajpur, and eight in Purba Bardhaman.

 

Around 57.03 per cent turnout was recorded till 1 pm, an EC official said.

 

Long queues were seen outside most polling booths with security personnel asking everyone to adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols amid the surge in the pandemic everywhere, the official said. (PTI)

3:51 PM

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: Thermal checking going on at a polling station

3:21 PM

Covid protocols being maintained at a constituency of North 24 Parganas District

2:45 PM

West Bengal election LIVE: Police force escorting voters to a polling station

1:53 PM

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: 57.30% voter turnout recorded till 1:28 pm

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: 57.30% voter turnout recorded till 1:28 pm, according to the election commission

11:16 AM

Modi urges voters to exercise their franchise as 6th phase of Bengal polls begins

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday urged eligible voters in West Bengal to exercise their franchise as the sixth phase of assembly polls got underway in the state.

 

Polling began at 7 am on Thursday for 43 seats, including 17 in North 24 Parganas district and nine in Nadia -- most of which have a significant presence of the Matuas, who can decisively sway the results in any party's favour.

 

Besides, elections are also being held on the nine seats of Uttar Dinajpur district and eight of Purba Bardhaman.

 

Modi tweeted, "The people of West Bengal are voting to elect a new assembly. On the sixth phase today, urging those whose seats are polling to exercise their franchise. 

11:14 AM

Bengal Polls Phase 6: Voting starts late at Raiganj polling booth in North Dinajpur due to technical glitch

As polling for the sixth phase of West Bengal assembly elections began on Thursday, voting at a polling station in the Raiganj constituency of North Dinajpur district got delayed by over an hour due to a technical glitch.

 

While voting at the remaining polling booths in the district commenced at 7 am, it started at 8.17 am at booth number 134 at Raiganj Coronation High School.

 

BJP candidate from Raiganj, North Dinajpur, Krishna Kalyani cast his vote at booth number 134.

 

Speaking to ANI, Kalyani said, "Voting began a little late. It's a festival of democracy and everyone is participating. You can see the queues, it shows that this time voting will be for change, development."

 

10:45 AM

17.19% polling recorded in first 2 hrs in West Bengal

In a relatively peaceful polling in the sixth phase when people of 43 constituencies across four districts of West Bengal are exercising their franchise, 17.19 per cent polling was recorded in the first two hours. Two districts namely East Burdwan and North Dinajpur recorded more than 18 per cent in the first couple of hours, highest in the first two hours in polls conducted so far.

 

According to the approximate two-hours data released by the Election Commission, it shows that the state recorded a polling percentage of 17.19 - a relatively high voter turnout considering the other phases of the election. Among the districts, East Burdwan recorded the highest turnout of 18.93 per cent closely followed by North Dinajpur that recorded a polling percentage of 18.84 per cent. North 24 Parganas recorded the lowest voter turnout of 14.84 and Nadia district recorded a voter turnout of 18.20 percent.

 

So far as individual constituencies are concerned, Chopra in North Dinajpur district with 20.59 per cent recorded the highest voter turnout among all the constituencies. Similarly, Baduria in North 24 parganas recorded only 12 per cent - the lowest voter turnout among all the 43 constituencies.