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

1:52 PM

West Bengal elections: 37.42 per cent voter turnout recorded till 11 am

West Bengal elections: 37.42 per cent voter turnout recorded till 11 am in 30 seats where polling is underway for second phase

1:37 PM

Bengal polls: TMC writes letter to EC alleging booth capturing in Purba Medinipur

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien submitted a complaint to the Election Commission (EC) alleging booth capturing in Purba Medinipur during the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections.

 

O'Brien alleged that booth capturing in polling station numbers 6, 7, 49, 27, 162, 21, 26, 13, 262, 256, 163, and 30 were taking place.

 

"Huge mob of BJP workers have entered booth numbers 6, 7, 49, 27, 162, 21, 26, 13, 262, 256, 163 and 30. BJP workers attempting to take control of EVM and rigging the booth," he wrote.

1:08 PM

Local BJP leader detained in Bengal for coming within 100 metres of pooling booth

Police on Thursday said it has detained a local BJP leader for allegedly coming within 100 metres of a pooling booth here. Mohan Singh, Dakshin Mandal Sabhapati of the BJP, however, claimed that he was called there by saffron party candidate Bharati Ghosh.

 

Ghosh, a former IPS officer, alleged that TMC workers beat up Singh and chased him away. "I have complained to the presiding officer that our party agents are not being allowed to sit at the polling booths. TMC activists are intimidating our agents," she said.

 

Meanwhile, some BJP activists blocked roads when Singh was being taken to the nearest police station, officials said. In the Debra seat, where polling is underway in the second phase, two former IPS officers are crossing swords -- BJP's Bharati Ghosh and ruling TMC's Humayun Kabir.

11:53 AM

West Bengal Assembly polls: Ruckus ensues near polling booth in Debra

After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Mandal President of Debra, Mohan Singh, was detained by the police ruckus took place near a polling booth in West Bengal's Debra constituency here on Thursday.

 

The BJP workers alleged that the police are not letting a fair election to take place and enabling Trinamool Congress (TMC) people to capture the booths.

 

While, on the other hand, TMC party workers are accusing BJP's candidate from Debra constituency Bharati Ghosh of influencing the electorate by visiting the polling booths. Read on...

11:40 AM

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: BJP Worker Found Dead in Nandigram

A BJP worker was found hanging at his home in Nandigram in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district on Thursday, triggering tension in the area amid the highprofile election here, police said. Uday Dubey was found hanging at his home in the Bhekutia area of Nandigram in the morning, they said.

11:32 AM

West Bengal Assembly polls: 15.72% voting in 3 hours during second phase

Voter turnout for the second phase of polling in West Bengal notched as much as 15.72 per cent in about three hours as over 75 lakh electorate began voting in 30 Assembly seats on Thursday.

 

Long queues were witnessed outside most of the polling booths till 10 am.

 

The approximate voter turnout trend till 10 a.m. in Bankura district was 16.05 per cent, Paschim Medinipur 17.33, Purbo Medinipur 16.91 and South 24 Parganas 8.69 per cent, according to the Election Commission's voter turnout App. Read on...

10:40 AM

West Bengal: CPIM workers agitate at Ghatal today

West Bengal: CPIM workers agitated at Ghatal today, alleged that they were being stopped by TMC workers as they were on their way to cast their vote

 

Later, security forces reached the spot and removed the road blockade.

10:37 AM

East Midnapore recorded 16.9%; West Midnapore recorded 17.2% voter turnout; Bankura recorded 16.09% voting

East Midnapore recorded 16.9%; West Midnapore recorded 17.2% voter turnout; Bankura recorded 16.09% voting till 9am

9:35 AM

West Bengal Election 2021 LIVE: 13.14% polling recorded till 9 am, says ECI

West Bengal Election 2021 LIVE: 13.14% polling recorded till 9 am, says ECI

9:13 AM

West Bengal Elections 2021: Documents to carry for identification at polling stations

Here is a list of documents you can carry for identification at polling stations. Carry any of these mentioned identity proofs while voting.

Voter ID card

PAN Card

Driving License

Indian Passport

MNREGA Job Card

Bank/Post Office Passbooks with photograph

Pension document with photograph

Service Identity Cards with photograph issued by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies.

8:56 AM

BJP's Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari on his way to a polling booth in the assembly constituency

8:42 AM

ITBP troops guard polling booths in East Midnapore district

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

 

8:30 AM

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: India's eyes are on Nandigram, says Suvendu Adhikari

I appeal to people to come out in large numbers to cast their vote as the whole country is looking at Nandigram. People are waiting to see if development or politics of appeasement will win here: Bharatiya Janata Party's Nandigram candidate, Suvendu Adhikari 

Click here to know more about Nandigram constituency.

8:25 AM

Amid West Bengal election, Centre withdraws order cutting interest rates on small savings schemes

8:01 AM

West Bengal election live: AITC hopes to confine Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram

In Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP has been able to get an important mass leader in South Bengal. The BJP expects Adhikari to help it in bridging its deficit vis-a-vis the AITC in South Bengal. With Banerjee announcing her decision to contest from Nandigram, Adhikari will have to devote considerable time in his own AC now. That Banerjee announced her candidature from Nandigram on a day when Adhikari was doing a road show in Kolkata has conveyed this message clearly.