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

11:16 PM

Second phase polls: 80.53% turnout in Bengal, 73.03% in Assam till 5 pm

Assam recorded a voter turnout of 73.03 per cent on Thursday, while the figure stood at 80.53 per cent for West Bengal in the second phase of assembly polls in the two states.
 

The Election Commission said these figures were till 5 pm.
 

The second phase of polls in the two states were held peacefully across 21,212 polling stations spread over 69 assembly constituencies, it said.
 

"The voter turnout reported by 5 pm from the 39 assembly constituencies of phase 2 in Assam is 73.03 per cent. The poll percentage reported from the 30 assembly constituencies of phase 2 in West Bengal is 80.43 per cent as of 5 pm," the Commission said in a statement.
 

It said the "non-functioning rate" of electronic voting machines during the poll is lesser than experienced in last few polls.
 

During this phase, a total of 10,620 ballot units, and an equal number of control units and VVPATs were used in West Bengal.
 

In Assam, 10,819 ballot units, 10,592 control units and as many VVPATs were used.
 

One control unit, at least one ballot unit and one VVPAT form one EVM.
 

The poll panel later said 55 ballot units, 54 control units and 169 VVPATs were replaced in Assam during polling.
 

In West Bengal, 43 BUs and CUs each were replaced. A total of 192 VVPATs were replaced during polling on Thursday.
 

During the ongoing elections till second phase, a record seizure of Rs. 366.09 crore have been made from both the states.
 

The seizure figure, which includes cash, liquor, narcotics and freebies, is more than six times the total combined seizure of Rs 60.91 crore in assembly elections of 2016, the statement said.
 

A total number of 1,306 cases of Model Code of Conduct violations were reported through the cVIGIL app from Assam out of which 927 were disposed as of 4.30 pm.
 

Similarly, 14,499 cases were reported from West Bengal with 11,630 being disposed till 4.30 pm.
 

11:14 PM

Mamata's missive in line with our call for opposition unity on national issues: Cong

After TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee stressed for opposition unity, the Congress on Thursday said it is in line with its call for the opposition coming together on key national issues and in saving the Constitution and the country's institutions.
 

Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said all parties should together stop the attack on the Constitution and downgrading of the institutions.
 

"Mamata Banerjee's letter is in line with the Congress's call for opposition unity on national issues and to save the Constitution. It is a good thing and we appreciate that," he told reporters when asked about the letter.
 

Shukla said Banerjee has written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who will take a decision on it.
 

Facing a high-stakes poll battle in West Bengal, Chief Minister Banerjee has said the time has come for a "united and effective" struggle against the BJP's alleged attacks on democracy and the Constitution, and that opposition leaders should try present a "credible alternative" to the people of the country.
 

In a letter to the non-BJP leaders including Sonia Gandhi released by the TMC on Wednesday, Banerjee also alleged that the Centre-state relations were at their worst since independence.
 

The missive came on the eve of the second phase of the assembly polls in West Bengal in which Banerjee is locked in a fierce fight in Nandigram constituency against her protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP. 
 

11:13 PM

Mamata provided 'false information' on condition of Devi Chaudharini temple: Prahlad Patel

Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel Thursday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of providing false information about the condition of Devi Chaudharini temple in the state's Jalpaiguri.
 

"CM Mamata Banerjee provided wrong information that the temple which had burnt down four years ago had been restored. She provided false information. It had not only hurt religious sentiments of the masses but has also dishonoured Bankim Chandra Chatterjee who composed Vande Mataram in this holy land,” Patel said.
 

"As of now, there is no clarity on the temple's ownership, operation and activities," he said in a statement.
 

8:26 PM

We need to keep democracy in place: TMC's Derek O'Brien

8:19 PM

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

8:03 PM

Mamata Banerjee is winning by a huge margin; Opposition candidate is nowhere near: Yashwant Sinha

7:18 PM

West Bengal: EVMs sealed in Kakdwip Assembly constituency after polling concludes

7:09 PM

TMC writes to EC, alleges CRPF men misbehaved with women voters in Nandigram

Alleging that a few Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on Thursday "misbehaved" with women voters at a polling booth in Bengal's Nandigram constituency, the TMC urged the Election Commission to take immediate action against the offenders.

 

In a letter to the poll panel, the ruling party claimed that CRPF personnel, posted at booth number 197 in Nandigram, were seen exhibiting improper behaviour, with some even intimidating women.

 

Such conduct by the CRPF men deployed on polling duty represents "their partisan conduct which is prejudicial for the Trinamool", the letter said.

 

The party demanded that the security team, seen "misbehaving" at the polling station, be immediately replaced and strict action be taken against the accused personnel.

6:55 PM

LIVE: V for Victory, tweets TMC

5:57 PM

90% of votes in Nandigram will go to TMC: Mamata Banerjee

Whatever the Election Commission may try, BJP will not win. In Nandigram, 90 per cent of the votes will go to TMC, says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

5:44 PM

We've lodged 63 complaints with EC; worried about democracy, says Mamata

5:39 PM

LIVE: 79.53 per cent polling recorded in West Bengal till 5:22 pm

LIVE: 79.53 per cent polling recorded in West Bengal till 5:22 pm, says Election Commission of India

5:38 PM

Why does Modi campaign on election day, asks Mamata

Why does Narendra Modi comes to Bengal on every polling day? Why will he campaign on election day? If we can't campaign in election areas then why he addresses the people with all facilities including Doordarshan on polling day? Isn't it a violation of model code of conduct?, asks Mamata Banerjee

5:29 PM

LIVE: Mamata questions EC's silence about TMC complaints

Home Minister himself is instructing CRPF, BSF and other jawans to help only BJP and its goons. I apologise to my Election Commission for their silence. We have given so many letters but they are one-sidedly supporting BJP candidates: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

5:24 PM

TMC complains to EC over booth rigging in Moyna constituency

TMC lodges a complaint with Election Commission alleging capturing of 8 booths by BJP workers in Moyna constituency.  "BJP workers are attempting to take control of EVM and are rigging the booth. CRPF deployed at the booth is not taking any action," news agency ANI reported.