East states Lok Sabha Election voting LATEST updates: At 4 pm, the overall voter turnout in Assam stood at 60.89 percent, 65.59 percent in West Bengal, 68.94 percent in Manipur and 45 percent in Odisha.
Polling came to an abrupt end following skirmishes between some voters and CRPF personnel in Inner Manipur's 6/10 Kyamgei Muslim Makha Leikai polling station. Security personnel said some of the locals pushed CRPF personnel compelling the later to react by firing a few blank shots in the air and commit lathicharge. The voters, in turn, destroyed the EVM.
A Senior BJP delegation comprising of Jay Prakash Majumdar and Shishir Bajoria will meet the West Bengal Election Observer on Thursday at 3 pm on the subject of violence that took place in the second phase of voting in Chopra and other places.
BJP and TMC workers clashed inside a polling booth and broke the EVM machine in Kotgach, Chopra. The district in Darjeeling had also witnessed police lathicharge after miscreants tried to stop people from voting.
A BJP worker’s body was found hanging from a tree in the Senabona village of Purulia district. The deceased has been identified as Sishupal Sahis, son of Yadav Sahis of Sirkabad village in Baghmundi, Purulia.
The West Bengal Police and RAF had to fire tear gas shells to disperse agitators blocking the NH-31 at Chopra in Darjeeling, reports said. The miscreants were trying to stop people from voting in the Lok Sabha election.
Congress candidate from Silchar Sushmita Dev said that it is BJP which is under pressure, and not her. "Congress does not sell false dreams," the sitting MP said.
Meanwhile, Congress' MP and candidate from the Raiganj constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Deepa Das Munshi told News18: "We saw that 78 percent booths have central force but where the force has not been deployed, our polling agents were not allowed to enter. I am not satisfied." Munshi said that "TMC workers are involved in violence".
Voting was halted at upper Bagdogra's 25/47 booth under the Darjeeling constituency after black tape was found on the BJP symbol on the EVM, India Today reported.
Till 9 am, 17 percent polling was recorded in Darjeeling. Whereas, around 15 percent polling was recorded in Assam's Silchar Lok Sabha constituency. Meanwhile, the overall voting percentage in West Bengal was 12.43 percent by 9 am.
Polling was delayed at several places including in Assam and Odisha due to EVM malfunctioning. Polling is yet to begin at booth number 29/134 at Islampur Hindi FP School of Uttar Dinajpur, in Raiganj parliamentary constituency, as the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at the booth is not functioning.
The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine stopped functioning in one of the polling booths in Assam's Silchar. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, Darjeeling constituency candidate for Communist Party of India (Marxist) Saman Pathak cast his vote at the Margarette School in Siliguri.
From Assam, five seats including Karimganj, Silchar, Autonomous district, Mangaldoi and Nawgong parliamentary constituencies will witness voting. From Odisha, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal and Aska Lok Sabha seats will go to polls. Tripura East is the only seat from the north eastern state of Tripura that will go for polling on 18 April. Three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal — Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Raiganj will go to the polls in the second phase of elections on Thursday. Out of the two constituencies in Manipur, Inner Manipur will go for polling on 18 April.
A total of 97 parliamentary constituencies spread across 12 states and one Union Territory (UT) will go to polls in the second phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha election 2019 on 18 April.
The states going for polling in phase 2 of the general election are — Assam (5 seats), Bihar (5 seats), Chhattisgarh (3 seats), Jammu and Kashmir (2 seats), Karnataka (14 seats), Maharashtra (10 seats), Manipur (1 seat), Odisha (5 seats), Tamil Nadu (38 seats), Tripura (1 seat), Uttar Pradesh (8 seats), West Bengal (3 seats) and Puducherry (1 seat).
In Tamil Nadu, all 39 seats were supposed to go for polling until the Lok Sabha election to the Vellore constituency was cancelled on Tuesday following cash seizure from a DMK candidate's office a few days ago. The Election Commission of India (EC) took the decision after the district police had filed a complaint against the accused, Vellore DMK candidate Kathir Anand, as well as two party functionaries on the basis of a report from the Income Tax department on 10 April. President Ram Nath Kovind rescinded the notification to hold the election to the seat based on the recommendation made by the poll panel.
The voting time for phase 2 elections will be from 7 am to 6 pm. The eastern states that will go to polling on 18 April — Assam, Manipur, Odisha, Tripura and West Bengal.
In Odisha, over 76.93 lakh voters will decide the fate of 279 candidates, including chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Union minister Jual Oram, in the second phase of polls for five Lok Sabha and 35 Assembly seats. Out of the total electorate of 76,93,123, there are 37,47,493 women voters. At least 605 electors belong to the third gender.
"Preparations for the second phase of polls have reached the final stage and necessary steps have been taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful voting to be held in 9,117 booths," said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar.
The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the BJP are the main contenders in the three seats which will see a four-cornered contest between the two parties, the Congress and the Left Front.
The constituencies saw high profile campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, state chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, BJP president Amit Shah and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who raised a plethora of issues ranging from corruption to communalism, NRC to chit fund scams and development to security.
TMC has fielded Bijoy Chandra Barman against BJP's Jayanta Kumar Roy in Jalpaiguri constituency, where Moni Kumar Darnal of Congress and Bhagirath Chandra Roy of CPM are also in the fray.
In Darjeeling, TMC nominated Amar Singh Rai will fight against Raju Bisht of BJP, Sankar Malakar of Congress and Saman Pathak of CPM. TMC has nominated Kanhaiyalal Agarwal in Raiganj seat against Md Salim of CPM, Deepa Dasmunshi of Congress and Debashree Chowdhury of BJP.
The Jalpaiguri seat is a reserved one as it has a large population of backward communities who work mainly in the tea gardens. There is also a sizeable number of Nepalis and people of the Rajbangshi community.
Your guide to the latest seat tally, live updates, analysis and list of winners for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on firstpost.com/elections. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram or like our Instagram or like our Facebook page for updates from all 542 constituencies on counting day of the general elections.
Updated Date: Apr 23, 2019 14:43:14 IST
Highlights
West Bengal election voting latest update
TMC leader threatens police in South Dinajpur
TMC leader and former block president of Kumarganj, Mahmuda Begum allegedly threatened people as she came over to see polling at her former block. Goutam Chakravarty, the leader of BJP's South Dinajpur district, alleged that Begum was helping people in capturing the booth and influencing voters. After getting a complaint when police reached the spot, begum allegedly got into a heated argument with the force..
Input by A Ghose
Odisha election voting latest updates
Low voter turnout in Bhubaneswar
Due to rise in temperature post noon, voter turnout dropped drastically in Odisha's Bhubaneswar. The lack of amenities at polling booths to help voters in beating the heat has also discouraged people to come out and vote.
Input by Sonali Singh
Manipur records 69.05% polling till 5 pm; Assam registers 62.95% voter turnout
Polling has been slow in the eastern part of India with Manipur leading with 69.05 percent voter turnout till 5 pm. Assam recorded 62.95 percent whereas in Odisha, polling was at 46.69 percent. In West Bengal, the polling percentage remained same at 65.59 percent.
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP registers complaint against poll violence, demands more security
A BJP delegation met Election Commission special observer Ajay Naik and raised the issue of free and fair polling after incidents in Raiganj and Kalimpong. BJP demanded 100 percent deployment of central forces instead of the current strength of 80 percent.
The saffron party also demanded that necessary actions are taken in the case of the death of 22-year old BJP worker in Purulia district. It also complained against the hate speech of TMC leader Ratna Ghosh Kar.
Input by SS Parveen
Manipur election voting latest update
Violence disrupts polling in Inner Manipur
Polling came to an abrupt end following skirmishes between some voters and CRPF personnel in Inner Manipur's 6/10 Kyamgei Muslim Makha Leikai polling station. Security personnel said some of the locals pushed CRPF personnel compelling the later to react by firing a few blank shots in the air and commit lathicharge. The voters, in turn, destroyed the EVM.
Input by Armstrong Chanambam
Assam election voting latest updates
Poll percentage in Assam by 3 pm
Karimganj – 63.66%
Silchar – 57.06%
Autonomous Districts – 62.70%
Mangaldoi – 62.73%
Nowgong – 56.78%
Average – 60.38%
Input by P Baruah
West Bengal election voting latest update
BJP polling agent's car ransacked in Kalimpong
A BJP polling agent's car was ransacked in Kalimpong. More details are awaited. BJP, meanwhile, is going to lodge a complaint against Trinamool Congress over poll violence in West Bengal.
Voter turnout percentage at 3 pm
Assam: 59.52%
Manipur: 67.74%
Odisha: 43.94%
West Bengal: 65.15%
Odisha election voting latest updates
Odisha CEO announces Rs 30 lakh compensation for polling officer killed in Naxal violence
The Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar announced a compensation of Rs 30 lakh for the woman polling officer Sanjukta Digal who was killed on Tuesday by Naxals while her team was heading towards a polling booth in the Kandhamal district of Odisha. The CEO termed the incident it a "sorry incident."
Sonali Singh/101 Reporters
Voter turnout at 1 pm
Assam: 46.76%
Manipur: 50.29%
Odisha: 31.88%
West Bengal: 51.68%
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP delegation to meet with election commission
A Senior BJP delegation comprising of Jay Prakash Majumdar and Shishir Bajoria will meet the West Bengal Election Observer on Thursday at 3 pm on the subject of violence that took place in the second phase of voting in Chopra and other places.
Input by A Ghose
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP, TMC workers clash at Dighirpar booth in Darjeeling's Chopra
BJP and TMC workers clashed inside a polling booth and broke the EVM machine in Kotgach, Chopra. The district in Darjeeling had also witnessed police lathicharge after miscreants tried to stop people from voting.
Input by A Ghose
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP alleges booth capturing by TMC goons
BJP General Secretary candidate from Raiganj constituency Debasree Chaudhuri alleged that TMC workers were trying to capture booth at the Raiganj Coronation High School.
Voter turnout at 11 am
Assam: 26.21%
Manipur: 18.13%
Odisha: 12.66%
West Bengal: 23.13%
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP worker killed in Purulia
A 22-year old BJP worker’s body was found hanging from a tree in the Senabana village of Purulia district. The deceased has been identified as Sishupal Sahis, son of Yadav Sahis of Sirkabad village in Baghmundi, Purulia who was a member of the BJP Yuva Morch.
Police has started investigation in the case. This is the third such incident in a year in West Bengal, Zee News reported.
West Bengal election voting latest updates
Congress' Raiganj candidate Deepa Das Munshi expresses displeasure with security arrangement, blames TMC for violence
Congress' MP and candidate from the Raiganj constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Deepa Das Munshi told News18: "We saw that 78 percent booths have central force but where the force has not been deployed, our polling agents were allowed to enter. I am not satisfied." Munshi said that "TMC workers are involved in violence".
Voting stops in Darjeeling as voters find BJP symbol on EVM covered with black tape
Voting was halted at upper Bagdogra's 25/47 booth under the Darjeeling constituency after black tape was found on the BJP symbol on the EVM, India Today reported.
12.43% voting registered in West Bengal; 11.68% polling in Assam till 9 am
The overall voting percentage in West Bengal was 12.43 percent by 9 am. Assam saw 11.68 percent polling, Manipur recorded 16.23 percent turnout and Odisha had 6.80 percent voter engagement till 9 am.
17% polling in Darjeeling, 15% in Silchar by 9 am
Till 9 am, 17 percent polling was recorded in Darjeeling. Whereas, around 15 percent polling was recorded in Assam's Silchar Lok Sabha constituency
Odisha election voting latest updates
EVM malfunctioning delays polling in several booths across constituencies
Polling was delayed at several places including Booth No. 204 & 205 in the Sonepur district, Booth No. 65 & 68 in Bolangir, Booth No. 101 and 113 in Phulbani, Booth No. 179 of G.Udaygiri, Booth No. 54 in Baliguda and 67 of Kantabanji, due to EVM malfunctioning.
Similarly, polling started late in six booths of Sundergarh constituency, where Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram is contesting.
Input by: Bibhuti Mohapatra
Assam election voting latest updates
VVPAT issue resolved in Silchar, voting resumes
The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine had stopped functioning polling booth no. 200 in Silchar.
West Bengal election voting latest updates
EVM malfunctioning reported in a polling booth under Raiganj seat
Polling is yet to begin at booth number 29/134 at Islampur Hindi FP School of Uttar Dinajpur, in Raiganj parliamentary constituency, as the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at the booth is not functioning.
ANI
Manipur election voting latest updates
First-time voter hopes for change in administration, wants justice for all
A first-time voter from Manipur Millionaire Longjam, seeks better road infrastructure and justice for all. The young voter is of the opinion that influential people often get away after committing crimes or misdemeanour by using their influence and money without being held accountable. He wants the next government to change that.
Input by Armstrong Chanambam
Assam election voting latest updates
Over 11 lakh voters to decide fate of 13 candidates in Silchar
In Silchar, there are 11,91,289 voters including 6,13,931 males, 5,77,283 females and 75 third gender people voting for 13 candidates in the second phase of 2019 Lok Sabha election. Whereas in Cachar, there are 58 voters who are over 100 years old and 44,000 first time voters this time.
Input by Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha
Assam election voting latest updates
VVPAT malfunctioning reported in Silchar
The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine stopped functioning in one of the polling booths in Silchar.
Polling in Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Odisha and Tripura today
The eastern states that will go to polling on 18 April are: Assam, Manipur, Odisha, Tripura and West Bengal.
From Assam, five seats including Karimganj, Silchar, Autonomous district, Mangaldoi and Nawgong parliamentary constituencies will witness voting. From Odisha, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal and Aska Lok Sabha seats will go to polls.
Tripura East is the only seat from the north eastern state of Tripura that will go for polling on 18 April. Three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal — Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Raiganj will go to the polls in the second phase of election on Thursday. And out of the two constituencies in Manipur, Inner Manipur will go for polling today.
LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
14:43 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest update
TMC leader threatens police in South Dinajpur
TMC leader and former block president of Kumarganj, Mahmuda Begum allegedly threatened people as she came over to see polling at her former block. Goutam Chakravarty, the leader of BJP's South Dinajpur district, alleged that Begum was helping people in capturing the booth and influencing voters. After getting a complaint when police reached the spot, begum allegedly got into a heated argument with the force..
Input by A Ghose
14:32 (IST)
Odisha election voting latest updates
Low voter turnout in Bhubaneswar
Due to rise in temperature post noon, voter turnout dropped drastically in Odisha's Bhubaneswar. The lack of amenities at polling booths to help voters in beating the heat has also discouraged people to come out and vote.
Input by Sonali Singh
17:54 (IST)
West Bengal Election Voting Live updates
BJP demands all booths to be guarded by central forces
BJP leader Mukul Roy demanded deployment of 100 percent central forces on polling day in Lok Sabha constituncies where voting is being held. He claimed that polling is being held peacefully in only those areas where central forces are deployed while addressing the media after meeting Chief Observer Ajay Naik.. Citing the examples of Chopra and Raiganj, Roy said voting only began much later in Chopra and only after the central forces arrived. He added they have been assured by the EC regarding this.
Input by SS Parveen/101 Reporters
17:24 (IST)
Manipur records 69.05% polling till 5 pm; Assam registers 62.95% voter turnout
Polling has been slow in the eastern part of India with Manipur leading with 69.05 percent voter turnout till 5 pm. Assam recorded 62.95 percent whereas in Odisha, polling was at 46.69 percent. In West Bengal, the polling percentage remained same at 65.59 percent.
16:42 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP registers complaint against poll violence, demands more security
A BJP delegation met Election Commission special observer Ajay Naik and raised the issue of free and fair polling after incidents in Raiganj and Kalimpong. BJP demanded 100 percent deployment of central forces instead of the current strength of 80 percent.
The saffron party also demanded that necessary actions are taken in the case of the death of 22-year old BJP worker in Purulia district. It also complained against the hate speech of TMC leader Ratna Ghosh Kar.
Input by SS Parveen
16:19 (IST)
Manipur election voting latest updates
Voters queue up to vote in Inner Manipur
16:10 (IST)
Manipur election voting latest update
Violence disrupts polling in Inner Manipur
Polling came to an abrupt end following skirmishes between some voters and CRPF personnel in Inner Manipur's 6/10 Kyamgei Muslim Makha Leikai polling station. Security personnel said some of the locals pushed CRPF personnel compelling the later to react by firing a few blank shots in the air and commit lathicharge. The voters, in turn, destroyed the EVM.
Input by Armstrong Chanambam
16:09 (IST)
Assam election voting latest updates
Voters continue to trickle-in in Nagaon
The average polling percentage in the state at 4 pm stood at 60.89 percent.
15:46 (IST)
Assam election voting latest updates
Poll percentage in Assam by 3 pm
Karimganj – 63.66%
Silchar – 57.06%
Autonomous Districts – 62.70%
Mangaldoi – 62.73%
Nowgong – 56.78%
Average – 60.38%
Input by P Baruah
15:34 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest update
BJP polling agent's car ransacked in Kalimpong
A BJP polling agent's car was ransacked in Kalimpong. More details are awaited. BJP, meanwhile, is going to lodge a complaint against Trinamool Congress over poll violence in West Bengal.
15:29 (IST)
Voter turnout percentage at 3 pm
Assam: 59.52%
Manipur: 67.74%
Odisha: 43.94%
West Bengal: 65.15%
14:09 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP Matigara youth president attacked
BJP Matigara youth president was admitted at a Siliguri hospital after being allegedly beaten up by TMC activists at the Matigara Booth No. 286.
Input by Roshan Gupta
13:51 (IST)
Odisha election voting latest updates
Odisha CEO announces Rs 30 lakh compensation for polling officer killed in Naxal violence
The Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar announced a compensation of Rs 30 lakh for the woman polling officer Sanjukta Digal who was killed on Tuesday by Naxals while her team was heading towards a polling booth in the Kandhamal district of Odisha. The CEO termed the incident it a "sorry incident."
Sonali Singh/101 Reporters
13:37 (IST)
Voter turnout at 1 pm
Assam: 46.76%
Manipur: 50.29%
Odisha: 31.88%
West Bengal: 51.68%
13:31 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP delegation to meet with election commission
A Senior BJP delegation comprising of Jay Prakash Majumdar and Shishir Bajoria will meet the West Bengal Election Observer on Thursday at 3 pm on the subject of violence that took place in the second phase of voting in Chopra and other places.
Input by A Ghose
13:26 (IST)
Odisha election voting latest updates
Union Tribal Affairs Minister and BJP candidate from Sundergarh Jual Oram cast his vote
Image courtesy: Bibhuti Mohapatra
13:12 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
Watch: Senior polling officer claims state is voting peacefully
The Special Police Observer for West Bengal Vivek Dube told reporters that polls are being conducted peacefully in the state. He admitted that there were issues in a few places such as Chopra in Raiganj, but peaceful voting has resumed. However, latest reports from Chopra say that polling has been stopped at Booth No. 112, where police had to resort to lathicharge after EVMs were broken to pieces.
Input from Syeda Shabana
13:05 (IST)
Manipur election voting latest updates
Transgender election icon says candidate important, not party
Bishesh Huirem, 29, who represented India at the Miss International Queen, a beauty pageant for transgender women, in 2016 prefers to vote for the right candidate instead of exercising her franchise by focussing on political parties. The transgender beauty queen, who has been chosen as an election icon for the second time in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, expects her preferred candidate to express the views of the people of the state by conveying their grievances effectively in the Parliament.
Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters
12:45 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
CPM leader's car attacked, bricks hurled at by TMC cadre
In Islampur, a veteran Left leader and CPM MP Md. Salim's car was attacked with bricks breaking its window. The attack took place at the booth where Salim had challenged the TMC goons, who were allegedly intimidating voters and poll officers. As soon as his car arrived, he was first stopped by some unidentified men and not allowed to get off.
Input by A Ghose
12:28 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP, TMC workers clash at Dighirpar booth in Darjeeling's Chopra
BJP and TMC workers clashed inside a polling booth and broke the EVM machine in Kotgach, Chopra. The district in Darjeeling had also witnessed police lathicharge after miscreants tried to stop people from voting.
Input by A Ghose
12:05 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP alleges booth capturing by TMC goons
BJP General Secretary candidate from Raiganj constituency Debasree Chaudhuri alleged that TMC workers were trying to capture booth at the Raiganj Coronation High School.
11:26 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
Lathicharge in Darjeeling over poll violence: Reports
The West Bengal Police and RAF had to fire tear gas shells to disperse agitators blocking the NH-31 at Chopra in Darjeeling, reports said.
11:17 (IST)
Voter turnout at 11 am
Assam: 26.21%
Manipur: 18.13%
Odisha: 12.66%
West Bengal: 23.13%
11:01 (IST)
Assam election voting latest updates
Sushmita Dev says BJP is under pressure
Congress candidate from Silchar Sushmita Dev said that it is BJP which is under pressure, and not her. "Congress does not sell false dreams," the sitting MP said.
Input by Swapnaneel Bhattacharjee
10:47 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP worker killed in Purulia
A 22-year old BJP worker’s body was found hanging from a tree in the Senabana village of Purulia district. The deceased has been identified as Sishupal Sahis, son of Yadav Sahis of Sirkabad village in Baghmundi, Purulia who was a member of the BJP Yuva Morch.
Police has started investigation in the case. This is the third such incident in a year in West Bengal, Zee News reported.
10:35 (IST)
Manipur election voting latest update
Manipur CM casts his vote
Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren cast his vote at a polling station in Heingang, Imphal.
Earlier, the returning officer of Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency had served a show cause notice to Biren for alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct by making defamatory statements against Congress candidate Oinam Nabakishore during an election meeting on 29 March at Yumnam Khunou in Imphal East.
10:24 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
Congress' Raiganj candidate Deepa Das Munshi expresses displeasure with security arrangement, blames TMC for violence
Congress' MP and candidate from the Raiganj constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Deepa Das Munshi told News18: "We saw that 78 percent booths have central force but where the force has not been deployed, our polling agents were allowed to enter. I am not satisfied." Munshi said that "TMC workers are involved in violence".
10:19 (IST)
Voting stops in Darjeeling as voters find BJP symbol on EVM covered with black tape
Voting was halted at upper Bagdogra's 25/47 booth under the Darjeeling constituency after black tape was found on the BJP symbol on the EVM, India Today reported.
10:01 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
BJP candidate from Silchar Rajdeep Roy cast his vote
In Silchar, there are 11,91,289 voters including 6,13,931 males, 5,77,283 females and 75 third gender people voting for 13 candidates in the second phase of 2019 Lok Sabha election. Congress' Sushmita Dev is the sitting MP of Silchar.
Input by Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha
09:50 (IST)
12.43% voting registered in West Bengal; 11.68% polling in Assam till 9 am
The overall voting percentage in West Bengal was 12.43 percent by 9 am. Assam saw 11.68 percent polling, Manipur recorded 16.23 percent turnout and Odisha had 6.80 percent voter engagement till 9 am.
09:48 (IST)
Manipur election voting latest updates
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh cast his vote in Imphal
Manipur has two Lok Sabha seats — Outer Manipur and Inner Manipur. Election to the Outer Manipur seat was held on 11 April and today voting is underway for the Inner Manipur constituency.
09:32 (IST)
17% polling in Darjeeling, 15% in Silchar by 9 am
Till 9 am, 17 percent polling was recorded in Darjeeling. Whereas, around 15 percent polling was recorded in Assam's Silchar Lok Sabha constituency
09:19 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
Early voting observed in Darjeeling
However, voting is yet to start at the Shyamacharan Vidya Bhavan polling station under Silchar constituency due to EVM malfunctioning.
09:08 (IST)
Odisha election voting latest updates
EVM malfunctioning delays polling in several booths across constituencies
Polling was delayed at several places including Booth No. 204 & 205 in the Sonepur district, Booth No. 65 & 68 in Bolangir, Booth No. 101 and 113 in Phulbani, Booth No. 179 of G.Udaygiri, Booth No. 54 in Baliguda and 67 of Kantabanji, due to EVM malfunctioning.
Similarly, polling started late in six booths of Sundergarh constituency, where Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram is contesting.
Input by: Bibhuti Mohapatra
09:00 (IST)
Manipur election voting latest updates
Najma Heptulla casts vote in Imphal
Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla cast her vote at a polling station in Imphal.
08:53 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
Congress' Sushmita Dev and BJP's Rajdeep Roy battle it out in Silchar
Sushmita Dev, is the sitting Congress MP of Silchar constituency, and also the president of the All India Mahila Congress. It is a close fight between her and BJP's Rajdeep Roy for this seat.
Women wait in line to vote at the Pachagram Town High School near Cachar Paper Mill, Silchar. Image courtesy: Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha
08:45 (IST)
Assam election voting latest updates
VVPAT issue resolved in Silchar, voting resumes
The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine had stopped functioning polling booth no. 200 in Silchar.
08:44 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
EVM malfunctioning reported in a polling booth under Raiganj seat
Polling is yet to begin at booth number 29/134 at Islampur Hindi FP School of Uttar Dinajpur, in Raiganj parliamentary constituency, as the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at the booth is not functioning.
ANI
08:43 (IST)
Manipur election voting latest updates
First-time voter hopes for change in administration, wants justice for all
A first-time voter from Manipur Millionaire Longjam, seeks better road infrastructure and justice for all. The young voter is of the opinion that influential people often get away after committing crimes or misdemeanour by using their influence and money without being held accountable. He wants the next government to change that.
Input by Armstrong Chanambam
08:41 (IST)
Assam election voting latest updates
Over 11 lakh voters to decide fate of 13 candidates in Silchar
In Silchar, there are 11,91,289 voters including 6,13,931 males, 5,77,283 females and 75 third gender people voting for 13 candidates in the second phase of 2019 Lok Sabha election. Whereas in Cachar, there are 58 voters who are over 100 years old and 44,000 first time voters this time.
Input by Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha
08:40 (IST)
Assam election voting latest updates
VVPAT malfunctioning reported in Silchar
The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine stopped functioning in one of the polling booths in Silchar.
08:37 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
Watch: Nuns reach early to cast their vote in Siliguri
Video courtesy: Roshan Gupta
07:28 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
CPM candidate from Darjeeling Saman Pathak casts his vote
Darjeeling constituency candidate for Communist Party of India (Marxist) Saman Pathak casts his vote at the Margarette School in Siliguri.
Image courtesy: Roshan Gupta
07:17 (IST)
West Bengal election voting latest updates
Voters turn up early in West Bengal's Darjeeling
Early voters turned up to vote at the Ghoom Jorebunglow College in Darjeeling, one of the three constituencies in West Bengal to go to polls today. In this constituency, BJP has fielded Raju Bista while TMC has given a ticket to Amar Singh Rai, who is also currently the sitting MLA from Darjeeling.
Input by Roshan Gupta
07:09 (IST)
Maoists kill polling officer in Odisha, torch vehicles ahead of second phase polling
A polling official was shot dead by Maoists on Wednesday night near Barla village under Gochhapada police station limits in Maoist-affected Kandhamal district ahead of the second phase of ongoing polls in the state. The deceased polling officer, identified as Sanjukta Digal, was on her way for election duty when Maoists exploded an IED targeting the vehicle she was travelling in but narrowly missed it. Subsequently, they opened fire at the vehicle and Digal was killed. Other officials who were travelling with her are safe.
Expressing condolences, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted: "Deeply anguished by the sad demise of polling supervisor Sanjukta Digal in Maoist attack in Kandhamal district of Odisha on her way to the polling booth. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayer for the departed soul."
In another incident, Maoists set a bike and two SUVs on fire. The vehicles were carrying polling materials like EVMs and VVPATs etc to a booth in a remote village in Phiringia. Thirteen polling officials travelling by these vehicles got down before the Maoists torched the vehicles.
07:05 (IST)
Two centenarians, including a freedom fighter, set to vote in Assam's Karimganj
A 104-year-old woman in Assam, Saraguna Bibi, is all set to cast her vote in the second phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha election. Bibi, a resident of Assam's Hailakandi district, has never missed exercising her right to vote. Bibi will cast her vote in the Karimganj parliamentary constituency.
In Karimganj, another centenarian, 116-year-old Mahamud Ali is also looking forward to exercise his franchise. Ali, who is a freedom fighter, told ANI: "I will definitely go to cast my vote. I also appeal to young voters to come out and vote. A lot of things have changed but there is still a long way to go." "Even after Independence, people living in this area used to die of starvation. But situations have changed now. It is because of this democracy that we do not have hunger and poverty like those times," he said.
07:04 (IST)
Model polling booths set up in Assam, pink stations to welcome women
Five out of the 14 parliamentary constituencies of Assam will go to polls today in the second phase of Lok Sabha election 2019.
06:56 (IST)
Five constituencies in contest in Assam in second phase of Lok Sabha polls today
Five seats in Assam including Karimganj, Silchar, Autonomous district, Mangaldoi and Nawgong parliamentary constituencies will witness voting on Thursday.
06:49 (IST)
Polling in Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Odisha and Tripura today
The eastern states that will go to polling on 18 April are: Assam, Manipur, Odisha, Tripura and West Bengal.
From Assam, five seats including Karimganj, Silchar, Autonomous district, Mangaldoi and Nawgong parliamentary constituencies will witness voting. From Odisha, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal and Aska Lok Sabha seats will go to polls.
Tripura East is the only seat from the north eastern state of Tripura that will go for polling on 18 April. Three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal — Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Raiganj will go to the polls in the second phase of election on Thursday. And out of the two constituencies in Manipur, Inner Manipur will go for polling today.