Eighteen Assembly constituencies in West Bengal — mostly in the Jangalmahal area affected by left-wing extremism — go to the polls in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections today.
Thirteen of the 18 seats have been identified by the Election Commission as leftwing-extremism affected, with voting ending in these at 4 p.m. as these are sensitive. This is the first phase in a larger election season in which five States will go to the polls.
Latest updates:
2:15 pm: Brisk polling was observed in the in the 18 constituencies in three western districts of West Bengal here with almost percent 63.30 per cent votes cast till 1 p.m..
Polling began at 7 a.m. in these constituencies located in area popularly referred to as Jangalmahal region which is affected by Left wing Extremism amidst tight security measures.
1:45 pm: The average voting percentage as of 1 p.m. is 63.30 per cent
Paschim Medinipur - 65.45%
Purulia - 61.95%
Bankura - 62.15 %
1:30 pm: “There were some issues with EVMs in some booths which were immediately addressed and polling is going on smoothly. We got some other complaints also but they have been addressed,” Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu Sarkar said.
12:45 pm: The first four hours of polling in 18 constituencies of West Bengal, many of which are in Left-wing extremism-hit areas, witnessed a heavy turnout as more than 45 per cent people cast their votes till 11 am.
12:05 pm: Six things to watch out for in this polls: Can Mamata Banerjee retain her hold in West Bengal? Will the Congress-Left alliance click? What are the other things to watch out for this time around?
11:00 am: The average voting percentage as of 11 am is 45.14 per cent
Paschim Medinipur - 47.53%
Purulia - 43.43 %
Bankura - 45.02 %
10:30 am: CPI(M) candidate in Salboni Assembly seat Shyam Pandey alleged that their polling agents in two booths in the Teltoka area of the seat has been threatened and driven out of the booths by Trinamool Congress cadres.
9:55 am: In Salboni in Paschim Medinipur, two booths 143 and 191 are "captured' said CPI M candidate. District Magistrate denies allegation.
9:30 am: In Ranibandh area in Bankura district polling stopped in two schools.
Voting percentage as of 9 am:
Paschim Medinipur - 24%
Purulia - 22.5%
Bankura - 24%
9:15 am: Reasonable polling in first couple of hour. 24 % polling till 9 am. Polling peaceful so far in Dharma area of Midnapore town in Paschim Medinipur district. Locals said no violence has taken place yet
8:45 am: When asked about the main poll issues in Bengal, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said, "Restoration of Democracy and secular values, security for women, people-centric development, including jobs, and an end to corruption.
8: 30 am: Unlike in 2011 Assembly polls where the Trinamool Congress was its partner, the Congress this time has forged an alliance with the Left parties. All the three — Trinamool, Left—Congress alliance and BJP — have fielded candidates from all 18 seats.
8:00 am: A tight multi—layered security ring was thrown in the three districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura to tackle any threat by Maoists.
7:15 am: Total number of voters in the constituencies are a little over 40 lakh (40,09,171) out of which 20,47,202 are males. The third gender category list shows only a handful of 16 voters. There are total 4,945 polling stations out of which 1,962 have been classified as critical ones by the Election Commission.
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