The eighth and final phase of prolonged West Bengal assembly elections is underway on Thursday. The final phase covers 35 assembly constituencies spread across four districts, Malda (06), Murshidabad (11), Birbhum (11) and Kolkata (07). 753 coys of Central paramilitary forces have been deployed out of which 641 coys of CAPF will be involved in protecting polling stations. Remaining forces will be used as QRT & some will be kept in reserve. State armed and unarmed police forces will also be used. Presently, 753 coys of CAPF are in WB as 318 companies have already been released from election duties. For Birbhum, ECI has appointed six additional police observers. Meanwhile, a repoll is conducted at polling booth no. 126 in Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi. While the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its prime challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are fighting to capture power in the state, the Left-Congress-ISF-led alliance Sanjukta Morcha are striving to stay relevant in the Bengal politics.
West Bengal Assembly Election Phase VIII (Apr 29) voter turnout till 5:00 pm:
29 Apr 2021, 07:26 pmOverall: 76.07%
Birbhum: 81.82%
Kolkata North: 57.85%
Malda: 79.98%
Murshidabad: 78.09%
West Bengal Assembly Election Phase VIII (Apr 29) voter turnout till 3:00 pm
29 Apr 2021, 03:49 pm29 Apr 2021, 3:00 pm
Overall: 68.46%
Birbhum: 73.88%
Kolkata North: 51.64%
Malda: 70.80%
Murshidabad: 70.91%
BJP's Bolpur candidate attacked
29 Apr 2021, 03:44 pmBJP's Bolpur candidate Anirban Ganguly came under attack in Ilambazar. His vehicle was vandalized allegedly by TMC workers. Ganguly escaped unhurt.
Voter turnout over 56 per cent till 1 pm
29 Apr 2021, 02:30 pmOverall: 56.28%
Birbhum: 60.31%
Kolkata North: 41.73%
Malda: 58.71%
Murshidabad: 58.86%
West Bengal Assembly Election Phase VIII (Apr 29) voter turnout till 11:00 am
29 Apr 2021, 12:26 pm
Overall: 37.80%
Birbhum: 38.10%
Kolkata North: 27.65%
Malda: 41.67%
Murshidabad: 41.01%
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, his wife cast votes
29 Apr 2021, 11:18 amWest Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar cast their votes at Chowringhee in Kolkata.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar cast their votes at a polling booth in Chowringhee, Kolkata. #WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/QpM5BcyS73
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
Voter turnout over 16 per cent till 9 am
29 Apr 2021, 10:46 amOverall: 16.04%
Birbhum: 13.44%
Kolkata North: 12.89%
Malda: 18.97%
Murshidabad: 18.86%
Former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim casts vote
29 Apr 2021, 10:43 amFormer Kolkata Mayor, West Bengal Minister and TMC candidate from Kolkata Port, Firhad Hakim, cast his vote.
(Image Credit: twitter.com/FirhadHakim)
PM Modi urges people to vote
29 Apr 2021, 10:29 amPrime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Last phase of the 2021 West Bengal elections takes place today. In line with the COVID-19 protocols, I call upon people to cast their vote and enrich the festival of democracy."
Last phase of the 2021 West Bengal elections takes place today. In line with the COVID-19 protocols, I call upon people to cast their vote and enrich the festival of democracy.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 29, 2021
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