West Bengal Election 2021 LIVE: 80% polling recorded till 6 pm, says ECI

The Phase 1 of polling is expected to witness a tight contest between the saffron party BJP and the ruling TMC

12:32 PM

West Bengal election 2021: TMC delegation to meet CEO to raise 'serious concerns'

A delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) will meet the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) at 12 noon on Saturday to raise 'some serious concerns', as polling for the first phase of state assembly elections is underway.

 

Taking to Twitter, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) questioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) on how the voting percentage reduced drastically to half within five minutes.

 

"What is happening @ECISVEEP?! Could you explain how voting percentage drastically reduced to half within a gap of just 5 minutes?! Shocking! @CEOWestBengal, please look into this urgently!" AITC tweeted.

11:54 AM

West Bengal polls: CPM leader Sushanta Ghosh attacked by unknown miscreants

During the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate for the Salboni constituency, Sushanta Ghosh, was attacked by unknown miscreants.

 

Ghosh was attacked at Salboni by unidentified men before being escorted away by security.

 

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

 

The first phase of the assembly polls is witnessing a triangular contest in Salboni between Ghosh, Trinamool Congress' Srikanto Mahato and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Rajib Kundu.

11:24 AM

Cast vote against divisive forces to strengthen democracy: Rahul to people

11:01 AM

West Bengal Assembly polls: BJP accuses TMC of creating disturbances at polling booths

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from West Midnapore Samit Das on Saturday alleged that Trinamool Congress is creating disturbances in the rural areas of the district as voting in the first phase of Assembly polls is underway.

 

Das cast his vote at a polling booth in the West Midnapore district in the state.

 

"Voting in Midnapore town is going on smoothly. But, at some places in rural areas, TMC workers are trying to create a disturbance," Das told ANI.

 

"At booth no. 266 and 267, some TMC workers entered the booth to influence the voters. We have complained to the Election Commission regarding the matter," Das said.

 

"We trust the Central police force. They are trying to help in conducting the polls smoothly," he added.

9:56 AM

West Bengal election LIVE updates: Vehicle catches fire under mysterious circumstances in Purulia

A vehicle caught fire under mysterious circumstances as it was returning after delivering food to polling workers in Purulia on Friday night ahead of the first phase of polling, here in West Bengal.

 

The driver has been taken for questioning by the police and further details are awaited.

 

Meanwhile, polling for the first phase of elections started at 7 am across 30 seats in the state. In the first phase, 30 seats covering all assembly constituencies from the districts of Purulia and Jhargram and a segment of Bankura, Purba Medinipur, and Paschim Medinipur are going for polls.The first phase of polling will decide the electoral fate of 191 candidates including 21 women. Read on...

9:35 AM

West Bengal Election 2021 LIVE: 7.72% polling recorded till 9 am, says ECI

7.72% voter turnout recorded till 9 am, in the first phase of polling in West Bengal Assembly elections: Election Commission of India

 

9:20 AM

Bengal Election LIVE: Nandigram BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari seeks suspension of Haldia Addl SP Partha Ghosh

West Bengal Election 2021 LIVE: Nandigram BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari seeks suspension of Haldia Addl SP Partha Ghosh

9:13 AM

East Midnapore election: 2 security personnel injured in a firing incident at Satsatmal

2 security personnel injured in a firing incident at Satsatmal, Bhagwanpur assembly constituency, early morning today, ahead of voting for West Bengal polls

9:00 AM

Voters being influenced at booth number 149: Soumendu Adhikari, BJP leader & brother of Suvendu Adhikari

Voters being influenced & stopped from voting at booth number 149. Overall polling being held peacefully. EVMs malfunctioning at some locations, it happens in all polls, EC is looking into it: Soumendu Adhikari, BJP leader & brother of Suvendu Adhikari

 

8:17 AM

West Bengal Election LIVE: 10,288 polling stations set up

The Election Commission has determined 10,288 polling stations, in which 8,229 are the main and 2059 as auxiliary.

 

8:10 AM

West Bengal Election: Nadda urges voters to follow Covid protocols, asks them to decide Bengal's future

7:56 AM

West Bengal election 2021: PM Modi asks people to vote in record numbers in Assam, West Bengal

7:24 AM

West Bengal election LIVE: 11 paramilitary personnel have been deployed per booth in Jhargram

 In Jhargram, 11 paramilitary personnel have been deployed per booth, the highest for any election held in the state so far, officials said.

7:05 AM

West Bengal: Preparations underway at a polling booth in East Midnapore

6:57 AM

'Khela shuru' in Bengal: Phase-I polls begins today

The 'Khela' (game) of power begins in West Bengal on Saturday with the beginning of the first of the eight-phase assembly polls in the state.

 

In the first phase, 30 seats covering all assembly constituencies from the districts of Purulia and Jhargram and a segment of Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur are going for polls.

 

The first phase of polling will decide the electoral fate of 191 candidates including 21 women.