Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates: Rangja Khungur Basumatary told a local TV channel that he had decided to resign from BPF as the party did not lend any helping hand to him during the campaign. Senior Congress leader Manish Tiwari, who was also present at the press conference, said, “The Congress has contested this election with a very positive campaign. The people of the state have responded to it very enthusiastically.” The Election Commission of India Thursday said that the second phase of Assam and West Bengal elections was conducted peacefully across 21,112 polling stations spread over 69 Assembly constituencies. However, sporadic incidents of violence were reported in West Bengal with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slamming the Election Commission over inaction to complaints filed by her party. “I am not worried about Nandigram, I am confident of victory. (But) I am worried about democracy,” Banerjee said as she showed the ‘V’ for victory sign to a gaggle of press photographers. The feisty TMC boss said she would win a majority of the 60 seats that had gone to the polls in the first and second phase. The EC, however, made no mention of violence in its statement released on Thursday evening. “Voter turnout reported by 5 pm from the 39 Assembly seats of phase 2 in Assam is 73.03 percent, whereas the poll percentage reported from the 30 constituencies of phase 2 in West Bengal is 80.43% as of 5 pm,” ANI quoted EC as saying. “A total number of 1306 cases of Model Code of Conduct violations were reported through the cVIGIL app from Assam out of which 927 were disposed of as of 4.30 pm. Similarly, 14,499 cases were reported from West Bengal with 11,630 disposed of till 4.30 pm,” the statement added. While more than 73 lakh electorates across 10,592 Polling Stations are registered to exercise their franchise in the 39 seats in the second phase of polling in Assam, in West Bengal, nearly 76 lakh electorates are registered across 10,620 Polling Stations in 30 Assembly Constituencies. “During this phase, a total of 10620 Ballot Units (BUs), 10620 Control Units(CUs) and 10620 VVPATs were used in West Bengal and 10819 Ballot Units (BUs), 10592 Control Units (CUs) and 10592 VVPATs were used in Assam,” the commission said in a release. Webcasting arrangements were put in place for 5,535 polling stations in West Bengal and 5,193 polling stations in Assam, the commission added. The EC also said that the option of postal ballot facility was extended to PwDs, Senior Citizens above the age of 80 years, COVID-19 suspect or affected persons and persons employed in essential services. Polling in Assam has been largely peaceful. However, the Election Commission issued a show-cause notice to Assam minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly making threatening remarks against Bodoland People’s Front leader Hagrama Mohilary. In West Bengal sporadic incidents of violence, including the death of a TMC worker, marred the second phase polling. The ruling TMC alleged “booth capturing” and massive fake voting in Boyal in Nandigram from where Mamata is a candidate. Violence broke out in Boyal after Mamata Banerjee reached there and BJP supporters started chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. Supporters of the two parties then indulged in violence, as TMC leaders demanded re-polling in booth number 7, police said. Meanwhile, BJP’s star campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a BJP wave was blowing across West Bengal, claiming his party will win over 200 of the state’s 294 assembly seats. BJP candidate from Keshpur assembly constituency Tanmay Ghosh’s vehicle was on Thursday vandalised allegedly by supporters of the Trinamool Congress, police said. The Congress, an ally of BDF in Assam, had complained that Sarma had threatened to send Mohilary to jail misusing the National Investigation Agency. Congress leader Sushmita Dev cast her vote during the second phase of elections in the state at a polling booth in Silchar A BJP polling agent at booth number 173 in Keshpur was beaten up allegedly by TMC workers. The polling agent has been rushed to a hospital, ANI reported. Former MoS Railways and BJP leader Rajen Gohain cast his vote at a polling booth in Nagaon Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to vote in large numbers in the second phase of assembly polls in Assam and West Bengal to strengthen the festival of democracy. Suvendu Adhikari said on Thursday, “I appeal to people to come out in large numbers to cast their vote as the whole country is looking at Nandigram. People are waiting to see if development or politics of appeasement will win here.” Polling has begun amid tight security arrangements and COVID-19 protocols in a total of 30 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal and 39 in Assam in the second phase of the elections in both the states today (Thursday, 1 April). The second phase of elections will decide the fate of 345 candidates, including five ministers, the deputy Speaker and some key Opposition candidates in Assam, whereas, 171 candidates are in the fray in West Bengal with the spotlight being on Nandigram where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is facing the electoral battle against her protege-turned rival BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. While elections in Assam are being held in three phases, Bengal elections are being conducted in eight phases. Both Assam and Bengal saw the first phase of polling on 27 March, with the northeastern state seeing an estimated turnout of 79.97 percent in 47 seats. Bengal, which saw 30 seats undergo polling in the first phase registered an estimated turnout of 84.63 percent. West Bengal In West Bengal, all 10,620 booths where over 75 lakh voters will cast their votes in this phase have been declared as sensitive by the Election Commission, and around 651 companies of Central forces have been deployed to provide security, officials told news agency PTI, adding that state police will also be deployed at strategic locations during the polling which begins at 7 am. Polling will take place amid strict adherence to coronavirus guidelines in nine seats of Paschim Medinipur, eight in Bankura, four seats in South 24 Parganas and nine in Purba Medinipur — the home turf of TMC turncoat and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Nandigram, the agrarian constituency which shook the foundations of the Left regime over the anti-land acquisition movement in 2007, falls in Purba Medinipur district. The constituency has now turned into a battleground of titans with Banerjee suddenly deciding to switch from her Bhowanipur seat to the constituency held by Adhikari, her former lieutenant who has switched loyalty to the BJP. Banerjee’s victory could herald the overshadowing of the powerful Adhikari family which has had a hold over the area for nearly a decade and raise a question mark on Suvendu’s political graph in his new party. On the other hand, a victory for Suvendu could pose a question mark on Banerjee’s political future while at the same time possibly propel Adhikari into few miles ahead of others in the chief ministerial race in case the BJP is voted to power. A win is also important for Banerjee, who is running for the third successive term as chief minister, to lead the government and keep together her party, which has faced exodus in the run-up to the polls. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday exuded confidence that Adhikari will win the seat and said that defeating Banerjee from Nandigram would be a precursor to the much-desired change in the state. The West Bengal chief minister, on the other hand, alleged that goons from other states have come to Nandigram to foment trouble and intimidate the voters and urged the Election Commission to take action. The Commission on Wednesday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in Nandigram, a senior official told PTI. Twenty-two companies of central forces and a 22-personnel quick response team (QRT) will be deployed in Nandigram on Thursday, an Election Commission official had told PTI on Tuesday. The EC has also constituted a team of officials who will supervise the proceedings in Nandigram on the poll day, he had said. Another prominent seat going to the poll in the second phase is Sabang, where TMC has fielded its Rajya Sabha MP Manas Bhunia, who held the seat from 1982 to 2016 as a Congress candidate before switching loyalties. He is up against TMC turncoat and BJP leader Amulya Maity. In Bankura, the TMC has fielded actor Sayantika Banerjee, a popular face in the Bengali silver screen against BJP’s Niladri Sekhar Dana while the Sanjukta Morcha has fielded Congress’ Radharani Banerjee. In Debra seat, two former IPS officers who resigned from their senior police posts to join active politics — BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh and TMC’s Humayun Kabir — will face off. Of the 30 seats in which voters will exercise their franchise on Thursday, 23 were won by TMC in the 2016 Assembly elections, five by the Left Front and Congress and BJP one each. The political equation in the state had changed in 2019 when BJP made massive inroads in the tribal-dominated Janga Mahal region and Medinipur belt by sweeping all the five Lok Sabha seats. The TMC, however, has been able to maintain its dominance in the South 24 Parganas district, where there is a sizeable minority population. Banerjee, who is in a wheelchair since her accident early this month, crisscrossed the majority of the constituencies going to the polls in the second phase. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee toured the rest asserting that TMC will not let Bengal be ruled from Delhi or Gujarat in an apparent reference to the battery of central BJP leaders and ministers camping in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda had led BJP’s campaign from the front addressing rallies at Kanthi, Bankura and Nandigram and urging the electorate to vote for BJP to usher in ‘ashol poriborton’ (actual change) to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ (prosperous Bengal). Assam In Assam, a total of 73,44,631 voters will be deciding the fate of 345 candidates, including 26 women. Of the total electors, 37,34,537 are males and 36,09,959 females, while 135 have identified themselves as the third gender. Total 10,592 polling stations have been set up in 5,774 premises. The ruling BJP is contesting 34 seats, while its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) are fighting in six and three seats, respectively. The BJP and the AGP are engaged in friendly contests in Patharkandi and Algapur, while the saffron party is engaged in similar fights with the UPPL in Majbat and Kalaigaon. The Grand Alliance’s Congress is contesting in 28 seats, the AIUDF in seven and Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) in four. The newly-formed Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) is contesting in 19 seats. There is a direct contest between the NDA and the Grand Alliance in 25 constituencies, while the rest are witnessing triangular fights. The key candidates in this phase include BJP minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar, state minister Pijush Hazarika and AIUDF’s Sirajuddin Ajmal, among others. Suklabaidya is in a direct contest with Congress’s Kamakhya Prasad Mala in Dholai, while BJP’s Aminul Haque Laskar is in a straight contest with AIUDF nominee Karim Uddin Barbhuiyan in Sonai. In the Jagiroad (SC) constituency, Hazarika is locked in a triangular contest with Congress’ Swapan Kumar Mandal and AJP’s Bubul Das from, while his cabinet colleague Bhabesh Kalita is in a direct fight with AJP’s Babul Saharia in Rangiya. Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary is fighting against BPF’s Karuna Kanta Swargiary in Paneri, while AIUDF’s Sirajuddin Ajmal, a former MP and MLA, is fighting the elections against AGP’s Sadikullah Bhuyan from Jamunamukh. Former Congress minister Gautam Roy, contesting on a BJP ticket from Katigora, is in a direct fight with his ex-colleague Khalliluddin Mazumdar. Gautam’s son Rahul Roy, contesting as an Independent, is in a triangular contest with former Congress minister Ajit Singh and sitting BJP MLA Mihir Kanti Shome from Udharbond. Gautam Roy’s daughter-in-law Daisy Roy is also contesting as an Independent from Algapur where the AGP’s Aftabuddin Laskar and BJP’s Moon Swarnakar are involved in a ‘friendly contest’. Also in the fray from Algapur is sitting AIUDF MLA Nijamuddin Choudhury. In Silchar, sitting BJP MLA Dilip Paul, now expelled from the party, is contesting as an Independent and is locked in a contest with BJP candidate Dipayan Chakraborty and Congress’ Tamal Kanti Banik. Another BJP minister, Sum Ronghang, on being denied ticket joined the Congress and is locked in a direct fight against BJP’s Bidya Sing Engleng in Diphu. There are only two candidates in Udalguri (ST) constituency where BPF minister Rihon Daimary is engaged in a direct contest with UPPL’s Gobinda Chandra Basumatary, who is currently the deputy chief of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The elections will be held amid tight security with 310 companies of forces being deployed for the second phase, an official told PTI. Round-the-clock patrolling is being carried out along with strict vigil in critical areas in all the constituencies spread over 13 districts in Barak Valley, the Hills districts and parts of Central and Lower Assam. A constable and a home guard will be deployed in each polling station with sector and zonal police officers to monitor the situation. Total 42,368 polling personnel have been deployed for the second phase. The second phase polling will also involve 26 general observers, 12 police observers, 16 expenditure observers and 807 micro-observers. Sanitisers, thermal scanners, soaps and handwashing facilities will be available at all polling stations, sources told news agency PTI. Postal ballots have been issued to 21,281 people above the age of 80 and to 5,407 Persons with Disabilities (PwD). Among the prominent BJP leaders who campaigned for candidates in the second phase in Assam are Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Narendra Tomar, Jitendra Singh, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan among others. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state unit president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa also participated in election events. The prominent personalities to canvass for candidates of the Grand Alliance included Rajya Sabhas MP Mallikaarjun Kharge, and Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Chhatisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Ripun Bora, Lok Sabha MPs Pradyut Bordoloi, Gaurav Gogoi RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and CPI’s Kanhaiya Kumar had also campaigned for the Grand Alliance candidates. Rahul Gandhi who couldn’t make it for the last day of campaigning due to inclement weather, in a video message, said the Congress will not allow the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in the state. Both Assam and Bengal will vote for the third phase on 6 April along with Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu where polling is being held a single phase. The Counting of votes will take place on 2 May. With inputs from PTI
Assembly Elections 2021 Updates: EC officials to submit report on Mamata's Nandigram plaint before 6 pm tomorrow
Assembly Elections 2021 LIVE Updates: Rangja Khungur Basumatary told a local TV channel that he had decided to resign from BPF as the party did not lend any helping hand to him during the campaign. read more
 "Assembly Elections 2021 Updates: EC officials to submit report on Mamata's Nandigram plaint before 6 pm tomorrow")
Assam Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Assam registers 77.21 per cent voting in 2nd phase on 39 seats
An estimated 77.21 percent of the 73.45 lakh voters exercised their franchise on Thursday during the second phase of polling, in which at least three
persons were injured in firing by PSOs of Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar in Sonai constituency. There are no other reports of violence from any of the 39
constituencies, where voting took place to decide the fate of 345 candidates, including five ministers, election officials said.
“The poll percentage estimated as of now is 77.21 percent. It will increase a bit after final compilation,” Joint Chief Electoral Officer Rahul Chandra Das said.
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Suvendu Adhikari claims Mamata rigged 2016 polls
Since parting ways, both Suvendu and Mamata have been taking potshots at each other, revealing alleged past wrong-doings that either had committed. Banerjee on Sunday claimed that Adhikari was linked to the Nandigram violence of 2007 that killed 2014. Today Adhikari claimed that Mamata rigged the polls in 2016 by forcing District Magistrates to exclude certain EVMs from counting
Mamata pressurized DM & SDO during last general polls. In Arambag, BJP candidate lost by 2,500 votes because votes of 16 EVMs were not counted. BJP had won Jhargram & Purulia Zilla Parishads but votes for lotus symbol were replaced with TMC symbol overnight: Suvendu Adhikari, BJP pic.twitter.com/qzgJ53U4el
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
Kerala Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Modi to address two public meetings in Kerala on Friday
As the campaigning for the 6 April assembly polls reaches the final phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing two election rallies in Kerala on Friday–at Konni and Thiruvananthapuram.Modi will commence his second lap of electioneering in the state, by speaking at a rally in Konni in Pathnamthitta district, where the famous Lord Ayyappa temple is located.
Assam Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress cries foul as BPF candidate joins BJP in Assam
Reacting to the development, Congress MP Manish Tiwari said that Basumatary had gone missing due to threatening by BJPN and lambasted the saffron party for it.
Never in India did such immoral activities take place during elections – you (BJP) threatened to use the National Investigation Agency against the party and the candidate. “You(BJP) want to win the poll by wrong means. This is a fascist mentality and it is BJP’s education. That party does not believe in democracy and democratic systems. This is absolutely the worst spectare of fascism that is on display in the Assam polls,” he told a press conference.
Tiwari demanded that the BJP government in the state tell the people what had happened to Basumatary for two days. “I demand a detailed probe into the incident by Election Commission. How come such an incident took place in front of the EC? Is the EC blindfolded?” the Congress leader said.
Assam Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
BPF candidate joins BJP in the midst of polls in Assam
Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) candidate Rangja Khungur Basumatary Thursday joined BJP ahead of the third phase of poll in Assam when the constituency in
which he is a contestant is slated to go to the poll. Basumatary had reportedly gone missing for two days and at around midnight on Wednesday, senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma had tweeted that he had met the BPF candidate, who would join the saffron party.
BPF is an ally of the opposition Congress in Assam, where two out of the slated three-phased poll got over on Thursday.
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Stand vindicated on Nandigram’s truth: CPM after Mamata-Suvendu war of words on 2007 violence
Days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused her then confidant and present rival Suvendu Adhikari of being involved in the 2007 violence in Nandigram, the CPM on Thursday said the remarks vindicated the party’s stand and “exposed the truth about the incident” in which 14 people lost their lives.
At a public meeting on Sunday, Banerjee accused both Suvendu Adhikari and his father Sisir Adhikari of allowing the police to enter Nandigram in 2007.
Fourteen villagers protesting against land acquisition in Nandigram were killed, many by police firing, on March 14, 2007. The Left Front, led by the CPI(M), was in power in West Bengal then.
Reacting to Banerjee’s remarks, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the comments finally “vindicated” his party’s stand on the incident that occurred more than a decade ago.
Assam Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Will reach majority mark in Assam from results of first 2 phases: Congress
The Congress on Thursday claimed that the alliance led by it will reach the majority mark of 64 in the 126-member Assam Assembly from the results of the first two phases of the election as the people of the state have responded to its “positive campaign”. Addressing a press conference here, AICC spokesperson
Gourav Vallabh said that the Congress-led Grand Alliance is on track to achieve its target of winning 101 seats in the elections. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years in Assam since 2001, has formed a Grand Alliance with the AIUDF, BPF, Left parties, the RJD and others to fight the Assembly election against the BJP-led NDA.
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
EC releases statement on Nandigram incident, says polling not disrupted in Boyal
The Election Commission has issued a statement on Mamata Banerjee’s allegations that many TMC voters were unable to cast their ballot at booth no. 7 in Nandigram’s Boyal, India Today reported.
The news channel also said that Mamata’s complaint forwarded to Special General Observer Ajay Nayak & Special Police Observer Vivek Dube who will submit their reports by 6 pm tomorrow.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Madras HC rejects Raja’s plea for urgent hearing of petition against EC order
The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed DMK MP A Raja’s plea for urgent hearing of a writ petition challenging the order of the Election Commission,
which barred him from canvassing for 48 hours, besides removed him from the list of star campaigners. A mention to this effect was made by Raja’s senior
counsel V Shanmugasundaram before the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy. He pleaded the request might be heard immediately in view of the urgency of the matter and availability of a short period of just three days for canvassing. The bench, however, rejected the plea. A categorical ’no’ was the reply of the CJ. The EC on Thursday banned Raja from campaigning for 48 hours after finding him guilty of violating the model code of conduct by making derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami.
PTI
Kerala Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
LDF tried to “crush” sentiments of Ayyappa devotees, UDF remained “mute spectator”: Nadda
Launching a scathing attack on the Pinarayi Vijayan led government on the Sabarimala temple issue, BJP National President JP Nadda Thursday said it had tried to “crush” the sentiments of the people, while the opposition UDF had remained a “mute spectator.” The LDF government tried to crush the religious sentiments of the people, the Ayyappa devotees were lathi charged, cases were lodged against them for trying to protect the traditions of the Sabarimala temple, Nadda said addressing a rally at Karunagapally in Kollam district. The opposition Congress led UDF remained a “mute spectator” and did only “lip service” on the issue, he said adding it was only the BJP which fought “tooth and nail” for protecting the traditions of the Ayyappa shrine. The two fronts have been the cause of destruction of culture of this land and they tried to “crush” the religious sentiments of the people, he alleged.
PTI
Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
DMK chief MK Stalin holds road show in Kolathur
Tamil Nadu: DMK president MK Stalin holds a roadshow in Kolathur Assembly constituency from where he is seeking re-election. pic.twitter.com/bYF38cnkyz
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
Kerala Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Rahul Gandhi lambasts Modi for ‘helping’ corporates instead of empowering poor
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ‘helping’ the big corporates instead of empowering the millions of poor in
the country. While campaigning for Congress candidates contesting in the 6 April polls from Assembly seats falling in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, he said, “The Prime Minister believes if you inject money in the hands of the biggest businesses, you can start the economy. But all that happens is that those big corporates take that money away.”
Addressing an election meeting in Kalpetta, the former Congress president claimed that his party has a solution to solve the problem of economic crisis. “To start Kerala’s economy, we are proposing an idea called NYAY. It’ll not only help poor people, it’ll start Keralas economy and start production of jobs. NYAY is Rs 6000 a month into all of Kerala’s poorest people’s bank accounts”, he said.
PTI
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata Banerjee slams EC for ‘inaction’, threatens to move courts
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee also slammed the Election Commission for “inaction” despite her party lodging several poll-related complaints and
threatened to move the law courts over it. “We have lodged 63 complaints since morning. But no action has been taken. We will move the court over it. This is unacceptable,” the chief minister said sitting in a wheelchair outside booth 7 in Boyal in Nandigram. “The EC is working on the instructions of Amit Shah,” she alleged. “Goons from other states are creating ruckus here,” she added.
PTI
Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates
Assam sees 73.03% turnout by 6 pm, Bengal records 80.43%
According to the approximate voter turnout trends released by the Election Commission, 73.03 percent and 80.43 percent turnout recorded till 6 pm in the second phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal, respectively
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Amit Shah holds roadshow in Karur district
Tamil Nadu elections: Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah holds a roadshow in Velayuthampalayam area of Karur district. pic.twitter.com/duAesAiqaj
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Not worried about Nandigram, worried about democracy, says Mamata Banerjee
Despite sporadic violence and accusations of vote fraud in Nandigram, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said she was confident of victory from the constituency where she had one-and-half decade ago led a farmers’ movement against a chemical hub planned by the then Left front Government. The chief minister however said she is worried about the fate of democracy given the use of money and muscle power. “I am not worried about Nandigram, I am confident of victory. (But) I am worried about democracy,” Banerjee said as she showed the ‘V’ for victory sign to a gaggle of press photographers. The feisty TMC boss said she would win a majority of the 60 seats that had gone to polls in the first and second phase.
PTI
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
EC one-sidedly supporting BJP, alleges Mamata Banerjee
“Home Minister (Amit Shah) himself is instructing CRPF, BSF and other jawans to help only BJP and its goons,” alleged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She also accused the Election Commission of one-sidedly supporting the saffron party despite the TMC having sent so many letters. She also raised questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a rally in the state on voting day. “Why does Narendra Modi come 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?,” she asked.
ANI
Why 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?: WB CM
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP’s rivals carry ‘secular tag on communal bag’, alleges Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday campaigned intensively for the BJP in Kerala and hit out at its rivals, saying they carry “secular tag on communal bag” as a new political experiment of the “Modi-bashing brigade”. Addressing various public meetings and road shows at Piravam, Ettumanoor and Vaikom in favour of the BJP-led NDA candidates for the state Assembly election, which is scheduled for 6 April, he said for the BJP, secularism is a constitutional mission and for “pseudo secularists” it’s a “vote grabbing” gimmick. He said the Congress has formed a new “secular syndicate” by allying with All India United Democratic Front in Assam, Indian Secular Front in West Bengal and Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala. The Congress is an expert in exploitation of votes on communal basis and by using cover of pseudo secularism he alleged.
PTI
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Aishe Ghosh submits nomination for Jamuria seat, tweets CPM
CPI(M) candidate @aishe_ghosh submitted her nomination papers for Jamuria constituency, Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal today. pic.twitter.com/n9Lp1HcYtJ
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) April 1, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Issues flagged by CM conveyed to those concerned, tweets Jagdeep Dhankhar
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Twitter that the issues flagged by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have been conveyed to the concerned authorities. “There is full assurance of the concerned to adherence to rule of law. Am confident all will act in right spirit and earnestness so that democracy flourishes,” he said on Twitter. Earlier, the TMC supremo said that she had dialled Dhankhar and a senior Election Commission (EC) official to inform them about certain poll-related issues, but refused to divulge the details.
Not seasonal with religious beliefs like Didi, Modi hits back at Mamata Banerjee in Uluberia
Making a strong Hindutva pitch at the hustings in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday attacked TMC leaders for calling those wearing
saffron, sporting tilak and choti as “rakshas”, and declared he does not believe in “seasonal faith”.
He also said a BJP wave was blowing across West Bengal where the party will win over 200 of the state’s 294 assembly seats. “Earlier, Mamata Didi had issues with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, over immersion of Durga idols. Now TMC has problems with people wearing saffron, sporting tilak and choti (tuft of hair), they are calling them ‘rakshas’ (demons),” Modi told an election rally in Joynagar. He was referring to the recent public declaration by Banerjee of her “gotra” (clan), an unusual thing for the Bengal leader to do, during the campaigning for the Nandigram seat.
18% declared criminal cases against themselves in Assembly polls in four States, UT: ADR
Out of 6,318 candidates contesting in assembly elections in four states and a UT, 18 per cent have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to a report by poll rights group ADR (Association for Democratic Reforms). The National Election Watch and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 6,318 out of 6,792 candidates who contested in the Union Territory of Puducherry and the four states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal till Phase 3 of assembly polls. Out of 6,318 candidates analysed, 1,157 (18 percent) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits and 632 (10 per cent) candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. As many as 1,317 (21 percent) are crorepatis. Of the 6,318 candidates, 567 were analysed from West Bengal (till phase 3) out of which 144 (25 percent) declared criminal cases against themselves and 121 (21 per cent) declared serious criminal cases against themselves, the report said.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
63.04% turnout recorded till 4 pm in Assam
The voter turnout as of 4.09 pm in Assam was 63.04 percent overall.District-wise, Nalbari ranked the highest in terms of voter turnout with 71 percent polling as of 4.09 pm. Among all the constituencies too, Nalbari was the highest.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Suvendu Adhikari hits back on Mamata for her poll rigging plaint
She alleges that polling agent was ousted from one booth. But said nothing when her people pelted stones on media & injured one. Her political ground is slipping away. What she did is illegal. She stopped polling for 2 hours & did drama. It's MCC violation: Suvendu Adhikari, BJP pic.twitter.com/H6C4jB0raf
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata hits out at EC over inaction to complaints
Banerjee slammed the Election Commission for not taking any action despite lodging several complaints and threatened to move court over it. Amongst the complaints were allegations of “booth capturing” and massive fake voting in Boyal.
“We have lodged 63 complaints since morning. But not a single action has been taken. We will move court over it. This is unacceptable. The EC is working as per Amit Shah’s instructions,” she said while sitting outside booth number 7 in Boyal in Nandigram, where her partymen alleged many voters were unable to cast their ballot.
EC officials, meanwhile, said they would look into the complaints. Around 57 percent of electors exercised their franchise till 1 PM in the agrarian constituency in Purba Medinipur district, an Election Commission official said.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
EC seeks report over violence during polling in Bengal’s Nandigram
The Election Commission of India on Thursday sought a detailed report from the administration in connection with an incident of violence in Boyal area in Nandigram where Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee paid a visit to oversee the polling process.
The West Bengal chief minister visited several booths across the high-profile Nandigram constituency, where she is pitted against her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP. As soon as Banerjee reached Boyal, BJP supporters started chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans.
Supporters of the two parties then indulged in violence, as TMC leaders demanded re-polling in booth number 7, police said. Central forces tried to restore law and peace in the area.
EC bars DMK’s A Raja from campaigning for 48 hours
The Election Commission on Thursday banned DMK leader A Raja from campaigning for 48 hours after finding him guilty of violating the model code of conduct by making derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami. In its order, the poll panel reprimanded Raja for violation of the model code of conduct, delisted his name from the list of star campaigners of the DMK and debarred him from campaigning for 48 hours “with immediate effect.”
Assembly polls will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 6 in a single phase for which campaigning would end in the evening of April 4.
“The Commission also advises you to be watchful and not to make intemperate, indecent, derogatory, obscene remarks and lower the dignity of women in future during election campaign,” the order read.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata Banerjee speaks to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar
The chief minister complained to the governor that local voters were not being able to cast their votes in the Nandigram constituency, from where she is a candidate.
#WATCH: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee speaks to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the phone at a polling booth in Nandigram. She says, "...They didn't allow the local people to cast their vote. From morning I am campaigning...Now I am appealing to you, please see..." pic.twitter.com/mjsNQx38BB
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP wave blowing across West Bengal, party will win: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Jayanagar, said that the state of Bengal will elect the BJP this time, because everyone knows that Trinamool is a shool (thorn). It has been a thorn in the side of Bengal’s people giving them pain for the past decade.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
People in Assam have shown Congress-led alliance “red card”, says Modi
Drawing a football analogy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday claimed the people of Assam have shown the “red card” to the Congress-led Grand Alliance in the state. He also accused the previous Congress governments of being mute spectators for decades to unbridled violence in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of the state.
People of Assam have bestowed their blessings on the NDA in the first phase of assembly poll and the voting that is going for the second phase today is also encouraging, he said. He alleged the Congress governments in the state and at the Centre did nothing for decades to check violence in the Bodoland areas.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
EC sends show cause notice to Himanta Biswa Sarma
The Election Commission on Thursday issued a show cause notice to Assam minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly making threatening remarks against opposition leader Hagrama Mohilary of the Bodoland People’s Front. He has been asked to respond to the notice by 5 pm on 2 April.
The Congress had approached the EC alleging that Sarma had threatened to send Mohilary to jail by misusing the NIA. The Bodoland People’s Front is an ally of the Congress in Assam.
In the show cause notice, the EC said “The Commission has obtained full transcript of Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement from the Chief Electoral Officer, Assam and the transcript stated .If Hagrama does extremism with Batha he will go to jail. This is a straight talk. If Hagrama encourage Batha, he will go to jail. Already got lot of evidence. This case is being given to NIA. The recovery of arms at Kokrajhar in a car, that case is being given to NIA. Nobody will be allowed to do unrest in BTR, even if he is Hagrama or any one. This will not be tolerated…,” the EC notice stated.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP workers resorting to EVM rigging in Nandigram: Derek O’Brien to EC
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien has written to the Election Commission alleging that BJP workers in Nandigram Assembly seat attempted to capture poll booths and tamper with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
“Huge mob of BJP workers have entered booth number 6,7,49,27,162,21,26,13,262,256,163,20. BJP workers attempting to take control of EVM and rigging the booth,” he said.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress seeks EC probe into Tamulpur candidate’s disappearance
Congress leader Manish Tewari demanded that a probe be launched into the Bodoland People’s Front Tamulpur candidate Rangja Basumatry’s disappearance. BPF is a part of the Congress-led Mahajoth alliance.
Tewari also demanded an answer from the BJP-AGP government in the state about the BDF leader’s whereabouts.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP candidate’s car vandalised in Keshpur; three held
BJP candidate from Keshpur assembly constituency Tanmay Ghosh’s vehicle was on Thursday vandalised allegedly by supporters of the Trinamool Congress, police said.
Three persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, they said.
An unidentified group of people attacked Ghosh’’s vehicle with bricks and bamboo sticks, and also vandalised cars of media personnel, a police officer said.
A team of central forces have reached the spot, an Election Commission official said.
PTI
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Assam sees peaceful polling in phase two
The situation in Assam was peaceful with a significant number of voters turning up during the morning hours to exercise their franchise in the 39 seats where voting was underway in the second phase on Thursday.
There were reports of EVM glitches from some polling stations and upon their immediate replacement voting continued uninterrupted, an election official said.
Long queues were seen outside most of the 10,592 polling stations across the 13 districts in the Barak Valley, the Hill region and parts of Central and Lower Assam since early morning.
A significant number of women voters were seen turning up early for exercising their franchise.
PTI
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress’ Sushmita Dev casts vote in Silchar
Congress leader Sushmita Dev cast her vote during the second phase of elections in the state at a polling booth in Silchar. She later hailed the Mahajoth alliance, comprising Congress, AIUDF and eight other parties, as an “inclusive” one.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Model polling stations give voters gamosas, adopt eco-friendly theme
Long queues were seen outside most of the booths as women stepped out in large numbers during the early hours of polling.
In many of the 117 model polling stations, the first voters were greeted with gamosas (traditional Assamese stole), and in some with saplings.
#AssamAssemblyElections2021 : Model Polling Stations in Cachar have become eco-friendly with all recyclable material only being used. 1st voters in M/F/Sr Citizen/PWD gifted saplings sir. The gateway is made by SHG women weaving traditional Sheetal Pati mats. #PollsWithAIR pic.twitter.com/sRL6Dc9jTh
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) April 1, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Polling largely peaceful , sporadic skirmishes reported, says official
The second phase of polling in West Bengal’s eight-phase elections, including in the high-stakes Nandigram seat, recorded a high voter turnout of 37.4 per cent till 11 am.
Though the situation was tense in a few areas with a few skirmishes reported, tight security cover in all 30 constituencies which went to polls averted any major incidents.
“We have 37.42 percent voter turnout till 11 am in all seats where polling is underway for the second phase. The polling so far has been peaceful,” an Election Commission official said.
PTI
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rahul Gandhi adds sixth promise to manifesto
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi added a sixth guarantee to the party’s election manifesto — to free Assam from the control of Delhi and Nagpur.
‘Nagpur’ is a reference to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s headquarters while the Congress has been accusing the Sarbananda Sonowal government of letting the BJP’s central leadership in Delhi run the show in Assam.
“You know about the five guarantees of the Congress. Let me guarantee a sixth, that the Mahajot [grand alliance] government will not let Assam be controlled by either Nagpur or Delhi if voted to power,” he told a meeting at Barkhetri in western Assam.
The party leads the 10-party Mahajot that includes perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic Front.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Local BJP leader detained for coming within 100 metres of polling booth
Police on Thursday said it has detained a local BJP leader for allegedly coming within 100 metres of a pooling booth in Debra.
Mohan Singh, Dakshin Mandal Sabhapati of the BJP, however, claimed that he was called there by saffron party candidate Bharati Ghosh.
Ghosh, a former IPS officer, alleged that TMC workers beat up Singh and chased him away.
“I have complained to the presiding officer that our party agents are not being allowed to sit at the polling booths. TMC activists are intimidating our agents,” she said.
PTI
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP polling agent attacked in Keshpur; party blames TMC
A BJP polling agent at booth number 173 in Keshpur was beaten up allegedly by TMC workers. The polling agent has been rushed to a hospital, ANI reported.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata to stay at war room in Nandigram through the day
Mamata Banerjee decided to stay at her war room in the Reyapara area during the polls on Thursday in the Nandigram assembly constituency where she is locked in a fierce prestige battle with confidante-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP.
She is monitoring the situation in the high-profile constituency where polling began at 7 am as local TMC leaders complained of their election agents not being allowed to enter several booths, according to the party sources.
There have been no reports of violence or clashes among political activists in the constituency, barring an incident in the Bhimkata area in Nandigram where the BJP candidate faced an agitation by a group of TMC workers who shouted slogans against him, an Election Commission official said.
PTI
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Badruddin Ajmal casts vote in Hojai
Assam: All India United Democratic Front President Badruddin Ajmal casts his vote at polling station number 21 in Hojai#AssamAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/fp4T08fkEI
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Assam records 10.51% turnout, Bengal 13.14% till 9 am
The Election Commission has said that 10.51% and 13.14% voter turnout has been recorded till 9 am in the second phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal, respectively.
Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Ex-minister Rajen Gohain casts vote
Former MoS Railways and BJP leader Rajen Gohain cast his vote at a polling booth in Nagaon.
“BJP will get over 35 seats out of the total 47 in the 1st phase. In the 2nd phase too, we’ll get many seats. BJP will undoubtedly form the government with more than 75 seats,” he told ANI.
West Bengal Election 2021 LATEST Updates
‘Confident that Mamata will lose’: Suvendu Adhikari after casting vote
BJP’s heavyweight Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari cast his vote soon after polling began on Thursday morning.
Riding a bike, Adhikari went to the Nandanayak Bar Primary School around 7.30 to cast his vote.
Speaking to reporters, he said that he was confident that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is contesting the elections against him from the Nandigram seat, will lose the polls.
“I have a very old relationship with the people of the area. I have a personal relationship with almost every person in Nandigram. Pretty confident that I will win the election,” Adhikari said.
PTI
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Modi urges people to vote in ‘record numbers’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to vote in large numbers in the second phase of assembly polls in Assam and West Bengal to strengthen the festival of democracy.
Modi tweeted, “Urging the people of West Bengal in whose seats there is polling taking place today to vote in record numbers.
“Second phase of the Assam polls takes place today. Requesting all eligible voters of this phase to strengthen the festival of democracy by exercising their franchise.”
West Bengal Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Suvendu Adhikari appeals to people to vote in large numbers
ANI quoted Suvendu Adhikari as saying, “I appeal to people to come out in large numbers to cast their vote as the whole country is looking at Nandigram. People are waiting to see if development or politics of appeasement will win here.”
Assam Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP contesting 34 seats, AGP in fray at 6 places
The ruling BJP is contesting 34 seats, while its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is fighting in six constituencies and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) in three.
Assam Election 2021 LATEST Updates
310 companies of security forces deployed in Assam
A total of 310 companies of security forces have been deployed to carry out strict vigil and prevent any untoward incident.
Around 42,368 polling personnel have been deployed, of whom 1,516 were dispatched two days in advance to far-flung areas, particularly in Dima Hasao and East and West Karbi Anglong district, the officials said.
PTI
West Bengal Election 2021 LATEST Updates
651 companies of CAPFs to be deployed
The Election Commission has declared all 10,620 polling booths as sensitive and deployed around 651 companies of central forces, apart from the state police, to provide security.
A total of 210 companies of central armed police forces have been deployed in Paschim Medinipur, 199 in Purba Medinipur, 170 in South 24 Parganas and 72 in Bankura, officials told PTI.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Polling begins for second phase
Polling has begun in 69 constituencies of Assam and West Bengal.
Assam Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Fate of 345 candidates to be decided in Assam
In Assam, a total of 73,44,631 voters will be deciding the fate of 345 candidates, including 26 women. Of the total electors, 37,34,537 are males and 36,09,959 females, while 135 have identified themselves as the third gender. Total 10,592 polling stations have been set up in 5,774 premises.
West Bengal Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Nandigram to witness key poll battle
In West Bengal, all eyes are on the battleground Nandigram that is going to the polls on Thursday with Mamata Banerjee engaged in a fierce contest with her protege-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP.
West Bengal Election 2021 LATEST Updates
List of constituencies that will go to polls in phase 2:
The 30 Assembly seats voting on Thursday are — Gosaba (SC), Patharpratima, Kakdwip, Sagar, Tamluk, Panskura Purba, Panskura Paschim, Moyna, Nandakumar, Mahisadal, Haldia (SC), Nandigram, Chandipur, Kharagpur Sadar, Narayangarh, Sabang, Pingla, Debra, Daspur, Ghatal (SC), Chandrakona (SC), Keshpur (SC), Taldangra, Bankura, Barjora, Onda, Bishnupur, Katulpur (SC), Indas and Sonamukhi.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
West Bengal and Assam voters to start voting from 7 am
The polling for phase 2 of Assembly elections will begin in the eastern states of Assam and West Bengal on Thursday, 1 April.
West Bengal will vote to elect MLAs for 30 constituencies in this phase. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will face Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram. The stakes are high with Adhikari swearing that he would quit politics if he does not defeat Banerjee by 50,000 votes in Nandigram.
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