West Bengal Polls LIVE: Chaos, violence cloud voting; 80% turnout till 5 pm

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE updates: 72 per cent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm. TMC and BJP are contesting in all the 30 seats. Stay tuned for LIVE updates on West Bengal election 2021 Phase 2

5:18 PM

West Bengal elections: 72.25 per cent polling recorded till 5:10 pm

72.25 per cent polling recorded till 5:10 pm during the second phase of West Bengal elections, according to the Election Commission of India

5:15 PM

Mamata Banerjee has lost the election: Suvendu Adhikari

5:14 PM

TMC sources say the question of Mamata fighting from any other seat does not arise: ANI

TMC sources say the question of Mamata Banerjee fighting from any other seat does not arise. She is winning Nandigram comfortably, according to news agency ANI.

4:52 PM

Mamata dials Bengal governor, alleges TMC supporters not being allowed to cast vote

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that she had dialled Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and a senior Election Commission (EC) official to inform them about certain poll-related issues, but refused to divulge the details.

 

According to TMC sources, the chief minister had called Dhankhar from a polling booth at Boila in Nandigram constituency, where she is pitted against her protege-turned- adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, and alleged that supporters of her party were not being allowed to cast votes by saffron camp workers.

4:34 PM

Modi takes strong Hindutva pitch to Bengal

Making a strong Hindutva pitch at the hustings in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday attacked TMC leaders for calling those wearing saffron, sporting tilak and choti as "rakshas", and declared he does not believe in "seasonal faith".

 

He also said a BJP wave was blowing across West Bengal where the party will win over 200 of the state's 294 assembly seats.

 

"Earlier, Mamata Didi had issues with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', over immersion of Durga idols. Now TMC has problems with people wearing saffron, sporting tilak and choti (tuft of hair), they are calling them 'rakshas' (demons)," Modi told an election rally in Joynagar.

4:21 PM

We will check all footage of booths and take appropriate steps: Mamata on allegations of rigging

We will check all footage of the polling booth and take appropriate steps: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee when asked if any FIR will be registered on allegations of booth rigging at Boyal polling booth where she visited.

 

4:16 PM

I haven't seen such a bad election in many years: Mamata Banerjee

4:14 PM

West Bengal elections LIVE: PM Modi says previous govts destroyed Bengal

LIVE: PM Modi says previous governments destroyed West Bengal in every sense. He slammed Mamata Banerjee for not having a vision for the state.

4:03 PM

Watch: PM Modi addresses public meeting at Uluberia, West Bengal

3:59 PM

Mamata hits out at EC over inaction to complaints

Heavy voting amidst sporadic violence, marked the second phase of polling to the West Bengal assembly, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Election Commission over inaction to complaints filed by her party.

 

Sporadic violence and minor clashes were reported from various constituencies, including the high profile Nandigram, where chief minister Mamata Banerjee is locked in a high- stakes electoral battle with her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari now with the BJP.

 

An agitated Banerjee slammed the Election Commission for not taking any action despite lodging several complaints and threatened to move court over it. Amongst the complaints were allegations of "booth capturing" and massive fake voting in Boyal.

3:54 PM

Amid chaos, West Bengal voters rush to polling booths to cast their votes; 71% turnout till 3 pm

Voters undergo thermal screening as they arrive to cast their votes | PTI photo

Voters wait to cast their votes during the second phase of West Bengal Assembly polls, in Nandigram | Photo: PTI

Voters show their ID cards as they arrive to cast their votes in Nandigram | Photo: PTI

3:50 PM

West Bengal elections: 71.07 per cent voter turnout recorded till 3 pm

West Bengal elections: 71.07 per cent voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in 30 assembly seats where polling is underway for second phase

3:40 PM

LIVE: Chaos continues near a polling booth in Debra

3:32 PM

EC seeks report over violence during polling in Bengal's Nandigram

The Election Commission of India on Thursday sought a detailed report from the administration in connection with an incident of violence in Boyal area in Nandigram where Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee paid a visit to oversee the polling process.

 

The West Bengal chief minister visited several booths across the high-profile Nandigram constituency, where she is pitted against her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP.

 

As soon as Banerjee reached Boyal, BJP supporters started chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans.

3:27 PM

LIVE: Afraid of losing, Mamata urged other parties for help and support, says PM Modi

Afraid of losing elections, Banerjee has appealed to leaders of other parties for help and support, says PM Modi at an election rally