Over 86 lakh voters in West Bengal will decide the political fate of 284 candidates, when 34 Assembly constituencies, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's home turf Bhabanipur, are polling in the seventh phase, amid a raging second wave of COVID-19.
Security measures have been heightened in view of the violence in the previous phases, particularly the death of five people in Cooch Behar in the fourth round of polling on April 10, an Election Commission official said.
The poll panel has decided to deploy at least 796 companies of central forces in the seventh phase to ensure free and fair voting, he said.
It will also put in place measures to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols during the voting process, the official said.
The State will witness one more phase of polling on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 2.
Here are the live updates:
Around 75.06% voter turnout recorded till 5 p.m. in 34 West Bengal Assembly seats where polling is underway in the seventh phase.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee casts her vote
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee casts her vote at a polling booth at Mitra Institution in Kolkata under Bhawanipore Assembly seat. Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee could not cast his vote owing to his ill health.
Over 55% polling till 1 pm
Stray incidents of violence were reported Monday, April 26, 2021 from some areas where voting is underway for the seventh phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal, though the overall polling process has been peaceful with 55.12 per cent turnout till 1 pm, officials said.
BJP candidate's agent detained for molesting women voters in Kolkata
BJP candidate from the Rashbehari assembly constituency Lt Gen Subrata Saha's agent was detained on Monday for allegedly molesting a few women voters inside a polling booth in the city's New Alipore area, police said.
Mohan Rao was detained after several women voters claimed he tried to drag them holding their hands inside Bidya Bharati School, a police officer said.
"We have received a complaint in this regard and a probe is underway," he said.
Rao, however, rubbished the allegations and said no such incident had taken place.
37.72 % turnout by 11 am
Amid allegations by Trinamool Congress candidates that central forces are not allowing candidates in polling booths, the voter turnout crossed 37.73% by 11 am, according to election officials.
Earlier, Samtukt Morcha candidate from Jamuria, Aishe Ghosh alleged that Trinamool Congress supporters are threatening people in certain villages not to cast their vote.
About 18% vote in first two hours
According to election commission sources, 17.95 per cent of voters exercised their franchsie till 9 am in 34 assembly seats where polling is underway in four districts of the State.
Breakup:
Dakshin Dinajpur 18.70 %
Malda 18.70 %
Murshidabad 19.54 %
Paschim Bardhaman 17.07 %
Kolkata South 13.09 %
Covid-19 rules violated, says Trinamool Congress
Nothwithstanding PM Modi's call to voters to adhere to COVID-19 norms, Trinamool Congress candidate from Bhawanipore constituency, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay has alleged that COVID-19 protocol is not being followed at the polling booths.
Follow COVID-19 protocol while voting: PM Modi
With the seventh phase of the West Bengal assembly polls underway on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to exercise their franchise and follow all COVID-19 related protocols.
"The seventh phase of the West Bengal elections takes place today. Urging people to exercise their franchise and follow all COVID-19 related protocols," Mr. Modi tweeted.
Polling begins
Polling began at 7 am on Monday, April 26, 2021, for 34 seats in the seventh phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal, amid tight security and a rampaging second wave of COVID-19.
Long queues were seen outside most polling booths where voting is underway adhering to Covid protocols.
Over 86 lakh voters will decide the political fate of 284 candidates in this phase.
Polling for 34 seats in 5 districts
Elections to the seventh and penultimate phase in West Bengal will be held across 34 Assembly segments across four districts of the State including Kolkata on April 26 ( Monday). The Election Commission had scheduled polling on 36 seats but polling in two seats, Shamsherganj and Jangipur in Murshidabad district, has been postponed because of the deaths of Samyukt Morcha candidates in these seats.
Six constituencies each are going to polls in Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda districts, four in Kolkata and nine each in Paschim Bardhaman and Murshidabad districts. Of the 34 seats, four seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates and two for Scheduled Tribe candidates. About 280 candidates are in the fray and the total number of polling booths is about 9,000.
Trinamool arrays political heavyweights to defend Kolkata
Kolkata, particularly south Kolkata, has always had a special fondness for the Trinamool Congress and its chairperson, Ms. Banerjee. The city elected her as MP seven times and as MLA on two occasions. Even during the height of the Communist Party of India-Marxist’s (CPI-M) Left front government in the State, Ms. Banerjee could always count on winning in the metropolis.
One more candidate succumbs to COVID-19
West Bengal on Sunday registered a record number of 15,889 COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, with one more candidate who stood in the polls succumbing to the virus. The State has recorded 57 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Kajal Sinha, Trinamool Congress candidate from the Khardah Assembly, died at a city hospital. The 59-year-old had tested positive for COVID-19 a day before the Khardah constituency went to polls on April 22. With his death, three candidates who were in the poll fray have succumbed to COVID-19. Earlier, Saymukt Morcha candidates from Shamsherganj and Jangipur in the Murshidabad district died after testing positive for COVID-19 and before their constituencies went to polls .
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described Mr. Sinha as a true soldier of the Trinamool Congress and expressed the hope that the TMC would win the seat when votes were counted.
(With inputs from our Correspondent Shiv Sahay Singh and agencies )
