The sixth and the final phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls begins in 25 seats of Purba Medinipur and Cooch Behar districts under heavy security deployment. As many as 58.04 lakh voters will decide the fate of 170 candidates. Of the total voters, 27.8 lakh are women while voters of the third gender number 68.
“While 123 companies of Central forces and 4,500 State police personnel will be stationed in Cooch Behar, 238 companies of Central forces and 3,500 State police personnel will be deployed in Purba Medinipur,” an Election Commission official said. The EC has identified about 900 troublemakers and has taken action against them. ‘Militarisation of elections’. >Read more
As it happened:
7.25 pm: West Bengal registers 84.24 per cent turnout in sixth and final phase of assembly polls: EC
Poll percentage till 5 pm: Cooch Behar: 82.71
Purba Medinipur: 85.09
Overall: 84.24
4.20 pm: The overall average till 3 pm was 74.15per cent as reported by DEOs. While in Purba Medinipur district 75.19per cent polling, 72.31 per cent votes were cast in Cooch Behar.
3.18 pm: Over 61 per cent voters exercised their franchise till 1 p.m. in the two districts. While Purba Medinipur district recorded 63.61 per cent polling, 58.81 per cent votes were cast in Cooch Behar. The overall average till 1 p.m. was 61.88 per cent, EC sources said.
1:30 pm: In Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district in North Bengal police entered voters' residences and lathi charged. At least 6 villagers injured. Human rights activists in the area called it "militarisation of democratic process". Excessive policing is condemned by many in the district.
12.25 p.m.: Resident of Haldibari camp, the people of Indian enclaves in Bangladesh, have come to india after casting their vote.
11.50 a.m.: Voters turnout till 11 a.m., as reported by DEOs :
Coochbehar: 42.07,
Purba Medinipur: 48.02%,
Overall: 45.88%.
11.20 a.m.: Meanwhile, a legal notice has been served to CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra for allegedly making “false allegations and sullying” the reputation of Trinamool Congress candidate in Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari. > Read more
An elderly person named Akkel Ali from Mosaldanga being taken to polling booth. His family members claimed he is above 100 years where as his voter card shows he is 84.
10.00 a.m: Poll percentage till 9 a.m., as reported by DEOs :
Coochbehar: 21.59%,
Purba Medinipur: 24.45 %,
Overall: 23.46%.
09.55 a.m.: Huge enthusiasm in voters in erstwhile enclave voting for the first time, says Ayesha Rani, ADM Cooch Behar. "It took lot of efforts from educate voters who are exercising their franchise for the first time" she added.
09.50 a.m.: "Allah has saved me for this day. When I woke up in the morning I could not stand. Now that I have voted I can die in peace," Asgar Ali told The Hindu .
Photo: Election Commission
09.45 a.m.: Special initiative for the differently able voters in Purba Medinipur.
09.37 a.m.: Trinamool Congress' secretary of Murshidabad District, Subir Sarkar, shot from close range. Election in Murshidabad took place in earlier phase. Mr. Sarkar received bullet injury in chest and hand, taken to hospital, The Hindu correspondent Shiv Sahay Singh reports from Cooch Behar.
Photo: Shiv Sahay
09.30 a.m.: 103-year-old Asgar Ali, oldest voter from Mosaldanga an erstwhile enclave, coming out of polling booth after casting his vote.
09.25 a.m.: Opposition polling agent allegedly beaten up by TMC cadres at Tufanganj Assembly seat in Cooch Behar.
09.04 a.m.: Five TMC workers reportedly detained in the Moyna Assembly seat in Purba Medinipur district for trying to intimidate voters.
08.00 a.m.: Opposition parties have alleged that outsiders are entering the Ramnagar Assembly, in Purba Medinipur district, seat at the behest of TMC to influence voters.
07.42 a.m.: CPI(M) polling agents house allegedly vandalised by TMC in Moyna Assembly seat in Purba Medinipur.
07.25 a.m.: Opposition have alleged that in several booths in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district their polling agents could not be present due to threats by TMC.
07.12 a.m.: As many as 58.04 lakh voters will decide the fate of 170 candidates. Of the total voters, 27.8 lakh are women while voters of the third gender number 68.
07.10 a.m.: Polling for the sixth and the final phase of kicks off in 25 Assembly seats in Cooch Behar and Purba Medinipur districts.
