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Bhabanipur Assembly Election 2021 Voting LATEST Updates: Clash between BJP and TMC supporters in Bhabanipur Assembly seat, where voting for the bypoll is underway, broke out on Thursday, ANI reported. BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey’s car was also allegedly vandalised, the report added. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will cast her vote at a booth in the Mitra Institution school in Bhabanipur at 3.15pm. BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal has alleged that two ministers from Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet are influencing voters and intimidating those who are unlikely to vote for the TMC supremo The Election Commission said polling was delayed in one of the booths in Bhabanipur due to the mock poll drive exercise and not rigging of the booth as alleged by the BJP. BJP candidate from Bhabanipur Priyanka Tibrewal accused TMC’s Madan Mitra of tampering with an EVM at the polling booth where Mamata Banerjee is set to vote. Stringent security arrangements were in place in Bhabanipur as the future of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who needs to win the election to retain her seat as West Bengal chief minister, will be decided in the bypolls on Thursday, 30 September. Banerjee will be battling it out against BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal and CPM’s Srijib Biswas, with Congress not fielding any candidate for the bypolls. The results will be declared on 3 October. Besides Bhabanipur, Samserganj and Jangipur constituencies are also going to bypolls on Thursday. Security beefed up At least 20 additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed in the constituency, a senior police official said. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were also imposed within 200 m of the polling centres where voting will take place on Thursday, he said. Banerjee is the Trinamool Congress candidate in the Bhabanipur by-election in south Kolkata, while the BJP has fielded Priyanka Tibrewal, and CPM’s Srijib Biswas is in the fray. Inside each of the 287 booths at 97 polling centres in Bhabanipur, half-a-section - three jawans - of the central forces will be deployed. Kolkata Police officers will be in charge of the security outside the booths. “Assembly of five or more persons within the periphery of 200 m of any polling premises will not be allowed. A ban has been imposed on anybody carrying stones, weapons, firecrackers and other explosive materials,” the Kolkata Police said in an order. Police pickets were set up at 38 locations across Bhabanipur, the official said. On the day of the polling, 22 sector mobile, nine HRFS (Heavy Radio Flying Squad) teams, 13 quick response teams (QRTs), nine teams each of the static surveillance team, flying squad, and an equal number of striking forces from surrounding police stations will be deployed, he said. Besides, three sub-division striking forces will also be deployed, he added. One additional police commissioner along with four joint police commissioners, 14 deputy commissioners and an equal number of assistant commissioners have been deployed for the Bhabanipur by-election, the official said. “We have also opened three additional control rooms. There will be arrangements for 141 special vehicles to escort the EVMs,” he said. Two strong rooms to store the EVMs have been set up at the Sakhawat Memorial Govt Girls’’ High School on Lord Sinha Road, he said. All policemen have been asked to wear raincoats and carry umbrellas owing to the inclement weather conditions in the city. The Election Commission has also asked the Irrigation Department to be on alert owing to the weather conditions here, the official said. “All the polling centres have been asked to keep pumps ready to drain floodwater. We have also asked the Irrigation Department and Disaster Management Department to be ready in case of any emergency because of the heavy rainfall,” he said. Strict security arrangements have also been made in Jangipur and Samserganj where assembly polls will be held on Thursday, an election official said. There are 363 booths in Jangipur and 329 in Samserganj, he said. With inputs from PTI
Bhabanipur Bypoll LIVE Updates: BJP and TMC supporters clash; 53.32% votes polled till 5 pm
Bhabanipur Bypoll LIVE Updates: A scuffle broke out between BJP and TMC supporters in the Assembly seat, ANI reported. BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey’s car was also allegedly vandalised, the report added
 "Bhabanipur Bypoll LIVE Updates: BJP and TMC supporters clash; 53.32% votes polled till 5 pm")
Bhabanipur Bypoll LATEST Updates
TMC influenced Bhabanipur voters, alleges BJP
BJP candidate from Bhabanipur Priyanka Tibrewal claimed that the TMC forcibly stopped the voting process at a polling booth in ward number 72, and that state minister Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee were trying to influence the voters in the constituency.
The BJP has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Hakim and Mukherjee.
Hakim, however, termed the allegations as baseless. “Does having tea at a roadside stall tantamount to influencing voters? The BJP knows it will lose the by-poll and are now making lame excuses,” he said.
Bhabanipur Bypoll LATEST Updates
78.60% voter turnout in Samserganj, 76.12% in Jangipur
Voting has largely been peaceful in Bhabanipur Assembly seat, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting, with 53.32 percent turnout till 5 pm on Thursday, officials said.
A high voting rate at 78.60 percent and 76.12 percent was recorded in Murshidabad’s Samserganj and Jangipur seats respectively, where polls had to be countermanded during the April-May assembly elections following the death of two candidates.
A total of 6,97,164 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the three constituencies. Voting will continue till 6 pm.
Bhabanipur Bypoll LATEST Updates
53.32% votes polled till 5 pm
The poll percentage recorded in Bhabanipur constituency was 53.32 percent until 5 pm. According to News18, BJP’s war room received numerous alarming calls of massive rigging from wards 70, 71, 74 and 82 in the last 20 minutes.
Bhabanipur Bypoll LATEST Updates
BJP and TMC supporters clash in Bhabanipur
Clash between BJP and TMC supporters in Bhabanipur Assembly seat, where voting for the bypoll is underway, broke out on Thursday, ANI reported. BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey’s car was also allegedly vandalised, the report added.
#WATCH | West Bengal: A scuffle broke out between BJP and TMC supporters in Bhabanipur assembly constituency, where voting for the by-poll is underway today. BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey's car was allegedly vandalised. pic.twitter.com/TBiPFdsWlI
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2021
Sovandeb Chatterjee votes for Mamata
Trinamool Congress’ Sovandeb Chatterjee, who had resigned as an MLA from Bhabanipur so that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could contest from the seat for bypolls, cast his vote on Thursday. “It’s my pleasure to vote for her (Mamata Banerjee). She will win,” he told ANI.
Trinamool Congress' Sovandeb Chatterjee, who had resigned as an MLA from Bhabanipur so that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could contest from the seat for bypolls, casts his vote. "It's my pleasure to vote for her (Mamata Banerjee). She will win," he says pic.twitter.com/Yaw2uJpWJH
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2021
Kalyan Choubey attacked, says BJP
The BJP has claimed that party leader Kalyan Choubey was attacked in Sara Bose Road, sources told News18. However, the TMC has denied these allegations,
Watch: ISKON monks vote
ISKCON Temple monks on Thursday voted for the Bhabanipur bypolls at La Martiniere School, Kolkata. “It’s an important vote, it will decide the chief minister of the state. People should come forward and vote,” a devotee told ANI.
West Bengal | ISKCON Temple monks cast their votes for Bhabanipur bypolls at La Martiniere School, Kolkata. "It's an important vote, it will decide the Chief Minister of the state. People should come forward and vote," a devotee says pic.twitter.com/U8BBfP6r8R
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2021
Bhabanipur polling percentage jumps
Poll percentage in West Bengal constituencies as per 3 pm:
56 – Samserganj – 72.45
58 – Jangipur – 68.17
159 – Bhabanipur- 48.08
Mamata Banerjee casts vote
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC candidate for Bhabanipur bypoll cast her vote at Mitra Institution polling booth on Thursday.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and TMC candidate for Bhabanipur bypoll leaves from Mitra Institution - a polling booth in the assembly constituency - after casting her vote. pic.twitter.com/ykhQS44npd
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2021
Polling largely peaceful, say officials
Voting has largely been peaceful in Bhabanipur Assembly constituency where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting, officials said.
BJP alleges voter intimidation, complains to EC
The BJP on Thursday complained to the ECI that two state ministers, Subrata Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim, were intimidating voters. The BJP asked the commission to keep the two cabinet ministers under house-arrest till the election is over.
“The Trinamool ministers are going to the voters and forcing them to vote for the Trinamool Congress. We have complained about it to the election commission,” a senior BJP leader told News18.
TMC paying people to vote, claims Tibrewal
Priyanka Tibrewal, the BJP candidate for Bhabanipur bypoll, alleged that TMC was paying some people to vote. “A man confessed to me that TMC paid him Rs 500 to cast vote. He was from Bansdroni. I have informed the authorities,” she told ANI.
Bhabanipur polling percentage rises slightly; 4 more hours before voting shuts
Poll percentage at 2 pm in West Bengal constituencies undergoing polls today are as follows:
56 – Samserganj – 57.15
58 – Jangipur – 53.78
159 – Bhabanipur- 35.97
Bhabanipur has remained last on the list since morning when less than 10 percent voting numbers sustained for at least 3 hours after the voting began. The voting picked up around noon, but four more hours still remain in which voting percentage can spike.
TMC claims Tibrewal creating traffic nuisance with her convoy to discourage voters from venturing out
“BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal is roaming around in Bhabanipur with a convoy of 20 cars, increasing traffic and is slowing down booths. She is trying to create hindrance along with the central forces who are also facilitating BJP,” a TMC leader told News18.
Watch: #TMC claims #BJP candidate discouraging good voter turnout by blocking traffic on roads | Follow LIVE Updates on #BhabanipurByPoll https://t.co/bGxLbYitl7 pic.twitter.com/F5hs26QhQB
— Firstpost (@firstpost) September 30, 2021
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
BJP claims Mamata Banerjee using false votes to win polls
BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal has filed a complaint stating that fake voters were sent to four schools in Bhabanipur.
Mamata Banerjee using false voting to win. Shame.#PishirHaarNischit pic.twitter.com/Ap0HmlHbh1
— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) September 30, 2021
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Mamata Banerjee to cast her vote at Mitra Institution booth at 3:15pm
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will cast her vote at a booth in the Mitra Institution school in Bhabanipur at 3.15pm.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
EC continues route marches to encourage voters to come out to vote
The Central paramilitary forces are conducting route march in areas where the voter turnout has been low.
Route March with CRPF Jawans at 159 Assembly Constituency of Bhabanipur Assembly Constituency of Kolkata South District. @SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP @rajivkumarec @DDBanglaNews @airnews_kolkata @DDNational pic.twitter.com/MkJfKWfW0H
— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) September 30, 2021
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
EC tweets visuals of officials distributing gloves, sanitizers to voters
Distribution of sanitizer among the Elector at the Polling Station No 11 (St Xaviers College) under 159 - Bhabanipur Assembly Constituency of Kolkata South District. @SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP @rajivkumarec pic.twitter.com/MnuOwtlftH
— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) September 30, 2021
Bhababipur: What’s playing out in support of Mamata
The assembly constituency, which lies in the heart of south Kolkata, is Banerjee’s home turf. Not only is Banerjee a resident of this constituency, she had been elected twice from the seat in 2011 and 2016.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Winning stronghold might not be cakewalk for Mamata this time; here’s why
While the TMC has won all the assembly elections held in Bhabanipur, the party’s vote share and winning margin has dropped each time. The party’s Subrata Bakshi won the 2011 polls with 87,903 votes, accounting for 65 percent of the total votes. The winning margin was nearly 50,000 votes, the data from the Election Commission shows.
In the 2021 assembly polls, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay won the seat with 73,505 votes, accounting for 57.71 per cent of the total votes. The winning margin was just 28,719 votes.
Mamata Banerjee had bagged the seat with the highest margin of more than 54,000 in the bypolls held in 2011. She bagged 73,635 votes, securing 78 per cent of the votes pooled. However, in the 2016 assembly polls, she secured 65,520 votes — only 48 per cent of the total votes. The winning margin in 2016 dropped to 25,301 votes, the Election Commission data shows.
Read the full article hereBhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
23 complaints registered with EC
At least 41 complaints regarding various issues have been lodged with the Election Commission today from three constituencies in West Bengal. Out of 41 complaints, 23 are from Bhabanipur.alone. These include BJP candidate Priyanka Tiberwal’s complaint that West Bengal ministers were trying to influence voters. She had also accused TMC MLA Madan Mitra of trying to capture a booth.
Bhabanipur polling remains lowest among three seats up for grabs in West Bengal
In West Bengal, Samserganj records highest polling percentage at 40.23%, Bhabanipur records lowest turnout at 21.73% till 12 pm
Polling percentage till 11am:
Bhabanipur – 21.73%
Samserganj – 40.23%
Jangipur – 36.13%
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Priyanka Tibrewal accuses Firhad Hakim of influencing voters; files complaint with EC
BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal has alleged that two ministers from Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet are influencing voters and intimidating those who are unlikely to vote for the TMC supremo. She has also filed a written complaint with the poll body.
“Namaskar since the morning Minister Shri Firhad Hakim has been seen all over 159AC influencing voters Now Minister Shri Subrata Mukerjee is seen all over the constituency influencing voters. This is in gross violation of the provisions of the Rules These 2 Ministers should be immediately detained in a PS outside the area of this constituency till atleast the polling process is over,” she said in her plaint.
Pipili assembly by-election latest update
24.76% polling recorded till 11am in Pipili bypolls
Voting is underway for the bypolls in four assembly segments across India – three in West Bengal: Bhabanipur, Samserganj, and Jangipur; and one in Odisha – Pipli. 24.76% polling has been recorded till 11am in Odisha’s Pipili.
Pipili assembly by-election latest update
BJD candidate in Pipili casts his vote
Biju Janata Dal candidate from the Pipili seat, Rudra Pratap Maharathy cast his vote at around noon. The seat fell vacant after his father Pradeep Maharathy’s death
Odisha | Biju Janata Dal candidate Rudra Pratap Maharathy casts his vote for by-poll in Pipili. The seat fell vacant after his father Pradeep Maharathy's death
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2021
"There has been no MLA in our constituency (Pipili) since my father's death. Everyone wants their candidate," he says pic.twitter.com/jQpCOUD0kZ
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
EC arranges for pickup services for disabled, elderly voters in water-logged areas
The EC has asked all the people to call on the toll-free number 1950 if they can’t go to their respective polling stations. The Commission will make arrangements to bring the voters to the booths and send them back after they exercise their franchise.
“If some area is waterlogged, the Commission will make arrangements to pick people from their homes. In addition to this, adequate security arrangements will be made so that people can exercise their franchise freely,” the official said.
The Commission is also making arrangements for adequate sanitisers and gloves for the voters. The polling personnel will be given raincoats so that they can conduct the election even in the midst of rain.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
After slow start, polling picks up pace in Mamata Banerjee’s constituency
Only 7.57 percent votes were cast till 11 am in the constituency after which security forces took out marches to raise awareness. Now various reports indicate that long queues have formed outside polling stations.
It was overcast this morning but after a slow start polling picks up pace at #Bhabanipur and the sun is out too! pic.twitter.com/9UcP1HXLLd
— Indrajit Kundu | ইন্দ্রজিৎ (@iindrojit) September 30, 2021
Samserganj assembly by-election latest update
Bombs hurled in Samserganj; local TMC leader arrested
Bombs were hurled in the Samserganj constituency hours before polling commenced. The police has arrested local TMC leader Anarul Haque in connection with the case, Hindustan Times reported.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
7.7% polling in seat till 9 am; flag march in low turnout areas
The Bhabanipur seat recorded a meager 7.7 percent turnout in the polls that will decide the fate of state’s chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The Election Commission has asked security parties to conduct marches throughout neighbourhoods where turnout has been low to create awareness amid voters.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
All booth under watch via webcams, mobile inspection units
As part of its elaborate security arrangements, the Election Commission has deployed 72 companies of central forces in the three constituencies, of which 35 are stationed in Bhabanipur alone, the officials said. An EC official also told News18 that CCTV camers were installed at all booths.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
EC rejects BJP’s poll-rigging claim in high-profile seat
The Election Commission said polling was delayed in one of the booths in Bhabanipur due to the mock poll drive exercise and not rigging of the booth as alleged by the BJP. The BJP has fielded Priyanka Tibrewal against Banerjee and has been raising allegations of a missing level-playing field in the keenly watched constituency. “No rigging took place,” the EC said
Tibrewal had earlier asserted that TMC’s Madan Mitra had shut down an EVM on purpose.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
EC says officials serious about implementing COVID-19 norms
Election Commission officials in Bhabanipur tols News18, We are keeping a very close watch inside the booths through web cameras to ensure that Covid ‘protocols are followed by voters, polling agents and polling personnel. We have 20 teams to monitor all booths continuously."
Pipili assembly by-election latest update
Polling begins in Odisha’s Pipili
Odisha: Voting for by-poll begins in Pipili, Puri
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2021
"We have made appropriate arrangements and have deployed extra security at sensitive polling booths. There are 32 mobile parties deployed for this election," says SP Puri Kanwar Vishal Singh pic.twitter.com/6LZgTm7nNB
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Priyanka Tibrewal accuses TMC MLA of tampering with EVM
BJP candidate from Bhabanipur Priyanka Tibrewal accused TMC’s Madan Mitra of tampering with an EVM at the polling booth where Mamata Banerjee is set to vote.
“Madan Mitra (TMC MLA) has purposely shut the voting machine here as he wants to capture the booth,” she told ANI
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Bhabanipur stands at the cusp of history, says BJP’s Amit Malviya
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Flood, COVID and security, EC officials struggle to prepare for worst in high profile election battle
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the only odd that authorities have to beat to conduct polls in Bhabanipur today. Adverse weather and the possibility of disruptions and violence in the bitterly contested seat are all possibilities that the Election Commission has made efforts to prepare for.
Up to 35 companies of Central paramilitary forces have been deployed, with three personnel to be present at each of the 270-odd booths all of which have been declared sensitive. Mitra Institution, a state high school where Mamata Banerjee casts her vote, is among the 13 booths declared “very sensitive” in the constituency.
Meanwhile, several places in the Bhabanipur constituency were under water on Wednesday following the overnight rains, officials said..
Election officials said all arrangements have been made in case the rains continue. All polling centres were asked to arrange pumps to drain floodwaters, while police personnel deployed for the election were told to carry raincoats and umbrellas, they said.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Polling begins in Bhabanipur, to continue till 6.30 pm
#WestBengalBypolls | Polling begins in Bhabanipur, polling is scheduled to end at 6:30 pm, according to State CEO
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2021
(Visuals from Mitra Institution polling booth) pic.twitter.com/fgW9fvMsbb
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Meet Opposition Candidates in Bhabanipur
Mamata Banerjee is a political stalwart who needs no introduction. No two days pass without her name making front-page headlines in the national media. But who are the people chosen by their respective parties to stand up against the All India Trinamool Congress Chief, who has maintained a steady grip on West Bengal for 10 years now.
- Priyanka Tibrewal: The BJP has put up 41-year-old Priyanka Tibrewal as a candidate against its arch-rival. Although she lost the recent Assembly polls and also the 2015 municipal polls, the Calcutta High Court lawyer has turned high profile, being one of the petitioners in the post-poll violence case against the state government.
- Srijeeb Biswas: The CPM, on the other hand, has fielded Srijeeb Biswas. Biswas too is a lawyer in Alipur court. He is also a pass out from Hazra Law College. From 2014 he has been practising law and generally handles cases of the Left parties.
The Congress, which had contested the 2021 assembly polls in an alliance with the Left, has decided not to field a candidate against Banerjee, whose equation with the grand old party has shown signs of improvement of late in the runup to the 2024 General Elections.
Bhabanipur assembly by-election latest update
Hoping for fair elections, says BJP Candidate Priyanka Tibrewal
Priyanka Tibrewal, the 41-year-old who is BJP’s candidate against Mamata Banerjee said, “We’re hoping for fair elections. Security deployment is very important. I will visit polling booths in the area today. The state government is in fear right now.”
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