West Bengal Election 2021 Updates: Sporadic violence marks third phase; TMC, BJP allege attacks on candidates

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update

Voters level allegations against TMC workers

Some voters at a polling booth in Diamond Harbour constituency levelled allegations against TMC workers and said that they were not allowed to vote, according to ANI.

“Officials came here but didn’t facilitate voting for us,” a woman told ANI.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update

Derek O’Brien writes to CEC over sexual assault of minor by CRPF personnel

TMC’s Derek O Brien wrote to Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal regarding ‘gruesome sexual assault’ on a minor girl by CRPF jawan in AC 198-Tarakeshwar, Hooghly.

“In a gruesome and heartbreaking turn of events, the very CRPF that has been deployed to poll-bound Tarakeshwar, Hooghly to maintain the law and order, has become responsible for brutal and vicious attack on a minor, school-going girl,” the letter signed by TMC MP Derek O’Brien said.

The letter said that an official complaint and an FIR was registered with the Tarakeshwar police station.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update

Modi accuses TMC of ‘Bhaipo service tax’

In a veiled attack to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for starting ‘Bhaipo Service Tax’ (Nephew Service tax) in West Bengal and claimed that her call for ‘united Muslims’ clearly shows that even the minority don’t trust her now.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update

Over 77% of votes polled till 5:30 pm

As of 5:30 pm, West Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 77.68 percent, according to the Election Commission’s approximate voter turnout trends.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update

Voters in queue to cast their vote in South 24 Parganas District

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update

Mamata heaping abuse on me, alleges PM at rally

Hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday claimed that the TMC supremo was “heaping abuse” on him as she is “frustrated” over her party’s impending defeat in the assembly elections.

Addressing a public meeting at Dumurjala in Howrah, he claimed that people in Bengal are speculating that the TMC will disintegrate after its defeat on 2 May, the day scheduled for counting of votes. “Didi is heaping abuse on me as she is frustrated over her impending defeat,” he said.

Maintaining that the TMC dispensation has institutionalised “ease of crime and ease of loot”, the prime minister said that a BJP government, instead, will provide people “ease of living and business”.

-PTI

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update

Didi making false claims, says PM at Howrah rally

Frustrated over impending defeat, Mamata Banerjee is heaping abuse on me, alleges Narendra Modi at a rally on Tuesday.  Modi, who is addressing a rally in the Howrah district, further said that no social scheme will be stopped if BJP comes to power and claimed “Didi is making false claims”

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Modi mocks TMC over absence of polling agents at rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is addressing a rally in West Bengal Howrah district, said “The situation (in the state) is such that Didi’s party is not getting polling agents at polling booths. A few days back, didi was accusing EC and security forces of stopping her polling agent. Now she has accepted that her polling agents are revolting against her.” He also refuted Banerjee’s allegation that people are voting for BJP in lieu of money. 

He further said, “The truth of whatever Didi did to West Bengal has come out. This is why Didi is threatening the people of West Bengal. Didi says ‘Amra dekhe nebo’, BJP says ‘Amra seva korbo’. We are humbly asking for a chance to serve people.” 

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Visuals from Bengal polling booth where volunteers, journalists allege being pushed out

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Over 67% of votes polled till 4 pm

As of 4 pm, West Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 67.24 percent, according to the Election Commission’s approximate voter turnout trends.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP worker’s mother killed by TMC goons in Goghat, alleges Tathagata Roy

Former Governor of Tripura and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tathagata Roy on Tuesday claimed that a BJP worker’s mother was killed allegedly by “TMC goons” in Goghat in Hooghly district of the poll-bound West Bengal.

“In Goghat in Hooghly district of West Bengal, Piru Adak, a BJP worker was attacked by Trinamool goons. When his mother Madhavi tried to save him the goons attacked and killed her,” tweeted Roy. The polling for the Goghat constituency is being held on Tuesday in the third phase of the West Bengal assembly polls.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

In West Bengal, polling being conducted in ‘favour of ruling party’, claims Congress

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Bodyguards saved my life: TMC’s Mondal alleges she was assaulted by BJP workers

Clashes were reported from several parts of Bengal, where polling is underway in the third phase of assembly elections, with TMC candidates Sujata Mondal and Nirmal Majhi alleging that they were heckled and assaulted by BJP workers, a charge denied by the saffron camp.

Mondal, who is contesting the elections from Arambagh, said saffron party men chased her and hit her on the head, when she was out visiting polling booths in Arandi area of the constituency, after having received reports that “voters were not being allowed to exercise their franchise”.

“My bodyguards saved my life… I came to know that BJP members were thwarting people from casting their votes in Arandi. I went there to find out what went wrong. I was assaulted, hit with bamboo sticks by saffron party men,” Mondal, estranged wife of BJP MP Saumitra Khan, said.

Her rival and BJP candidate Madhusudhan Bag, when contacted, stated that no one from his party attacked Mondal.

“It was the villagers who put up a resistance when the TMC leader tried intimidating them,” Bag said. A section of villagers also claimed that Mondal had threatened them with dire consequences if they “visit polling booths to cast their vote”. According to police sources, one of Mondal’s security guards had brought out his revolver to resist the attackers from chasing the TMC candidate.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Over 54% of votes polled till 3:00 pm

As of 3 pm, West Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 54.43 percent, according to the Election Commission’s approximate voter turnout trends.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Derek O’Brien writes to EC, urges poll body to take action against BJP

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien writes to the Election Commission, urging it to take action against “the goons of BJP” to ensure that polling in West Bengal is conducted freely and fairly, reports ANI.

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Didi asking Muslims to back her reflects minority votes slipping away: Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for seeking en bloc voting by Muslims for the TMC and said had his party made a similar appeal to Hindus, it would have been criticised and censUred.

Asserting that Banerjee has problems with people sporting a Tilak and wearing saffron, Modi said the TMC supremo’s appeal to the Muslims reflects that her “minority votes are slipping out of her hands.”

Claiming a BJP wave was blowing across West Bengal and his party would form the next government, Modi said Banerjee’s angry reactions indicates that she has lost the polls.

-PTI

“Didi recently asked all Muslims to vote en bloc for her. It shows that the Muslim vote bank is slipping out of her hands. Had we said the same thing that all Hindus should unite, everybody would have criticised us.The EC would have sent us notices. We would have been censored,” he said while addressing an election rally here.

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TMC tweets video of alleged BJP workers attacking Sujata Mandal

TMC tweeted a video of ‘BJP workers attacking Sujata Mandal’ saying, “Petrifying visuals of @BJP4India goons attacking TMC candidate #SujataMandal, openly abusing her & threatening her with rods & sickle. If they have the guts to do this to a female candidate, imagine what they can do to your daughters. This is their ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’

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BJP men forcibly occupying booths, attacking TMC activists and candidates: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed BJP activists were forcibly occupying polling booths and attacking TMC members, including party candidates, and asserted that she would not get bogged down by such “intimidatory tactics”.

Addressing a public meeting here in Alipurduar district, the TMC supremo said her party’s nominee in Arambagh, Sujata Mondal, was chased and hit on head near a polling booth by saffron party workers.

“They have inflicted serious injury on our Scheduled Caste candidate Sujata, when she visited a booth. They also hit another candidate in Khanakul. In Canning East, security forces prevented our nominee Shaukat Mollah from entering a booth. There had been numerous such instances of attack on our candidates, party workers across the state,” Banerjee said.

-PTI

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

53.89% turnout recorded till 1 pm

According to the latest data released by the Election Commission, West Bengal recorded a voting percentage of 53.89 percent on Tuesday till 1 pm in the third phase of Assembly polls.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Several sector officers suspended over EVM row in Uluberia

Three Assistant Sector Officers of Sector 17, 177-Uluberia North Assembly Constituency, Tapan Kumar Sarkar, Sanjib Majumdar, Mithun Chakraborty have been suspended for gross violation of ECI guidelines by taking reserve EVMs to their relatives’ house on 5 April, according to Howrah District Election Office.

SI Sujit Chakraborty of CID deputed in the area for law and order has also been suspended for gross negligence and callous activity in performing duty as sector officer under Sector no 17.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Muslim vote bank slipping out of TMC’s hands: PM in Cooch Behar

Mamata Banerjee recently appealed for Muslim unity and said their votes should not divide. It shows that Muslim vote bank, which you considered as your strength, has slipped out of your hands. It shows that you have lost the poll, said Narendra Modi on Tuesday while addressing a rally in Cooch Behar.

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Mamata alleges CAPF trying to intimidate TMC supporters ‘in favour of one party’

Taking a dig at the BJP, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the Central Armed Police Forces tried to intimidate TMC supporters “in favour of one party”.

“The blatant misuse of Central forces continues unabated. Despite us repeatedly raising this issue, @ECISVEEP continues to be a mute spectator while men in uniform are being misused at several places to openly intimidate TMC voters & influence many to vote in favour of one party,” said Mamata.

The TMC supremo also shared a video of an incident in Uluberia in Howrah in which Central forces personnel and locals could be seen arguing.

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34.71% turnout till 12 pm 

According to the latest data released by the Election Commission, West Bengal recorded a voting percentage of 34.71 percent on Tuesday till 12 pm in the third phase of Assembly polls.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

TMC, BJP supporters clash Arambag

Clashes erupted between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters in Arambag in West Bengal as voting for the third phase of the Assembly elections is underway in the state.

“In Arandi-1 area here, we’ve minority, SC voters who love Mamata Banerjee. Goons of BJP threatened and tortured women voters last night”, alleged Sujata Mondal, TMC candidate from Arambagh, according to ANI.

“Situation is fine at many places but not okay where we’re strong. At booth 45, people voted for TMC but it’s going to BJP. In Arandi-2, our workers were beaten. Central Forces are also not neutral. They’re telling people to vote for BJP,” Mondal added.

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Hooghly district records 37.36% till 12 pm 

Of the three districts voting on Tuesday, Hooghly recorded the highest voting percentage at 37.36 percent. Howrah witnessed 36.97 percent polling whereas, South 24 Parganas registered 32.44 percent.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

ITBP jawans help voters across pollling booths

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP supporter’s wife killed in Hooghly’s Goghat

The wife of a BJP supporter was allegedly killed in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, hours before polling began in the area, police said on Tuesday. The incident happened in the politically sensitive Goghat area of the district on Monday around 11 pm, they said.

Madhabi Adak was injured as she tried to save her husband when a few men barged into their home and attacked him, they said.

Adak’s family alleged that the Trinamool Congress was behind the incident, a charge denied by the ruling party.

“The woman tried to resist the attackers and was beaten up, following which she died. The miscreants then escaped,” a police officer said.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

26% candidates in phase 3 have criminal records

As many as 53 candidates in the third phase have declared criminal cases against themselves. This means 26 percent of candidates have been charged with criminal cases.

Of these, 19 are from Bharatiya Janata Party, 11 from Trinamool Congress, eight from Communist Party of India (Marxist), three from Congress and two from Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist).

Out of 53 candidates with criminal cases, 43 have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. There are nine candidates who have declared cases related to crime against women.

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TMC MLA accuses ISF workers of inciting violence in a polling booth in South 24 Parganas

TMC MLA Saukat Mollah accused the Indian Secular Front workers of inciting violence at a polling booth in Satsa in South 24 Parganas district.

“I had received information that ISF workers were hurling bombs at a polling booth in Satsa. I have informed the Police & complained to the Election Commission. I will go to that polling booth,” said the MLA.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

14.62% turnout till 10 am 

According to the latest data released by the Election Commission, West Bengal recorded a voting percentage of 14.62 percent on Tuesday till 10 am in the third phase of Assembly polls.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

EVMs, VVPATs found in TMC leader’s house in Uluberia Uttar

Amid the ongoing Phase 3 polls of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 on Tuesday, electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPATs were found at a residence of a Trinamool Congress leader in Uluberia Uttar.

The Election Commission has said that the EVM and VVPAT machines were taken to the TMC leader’s residence by Tapan Sarkar, a sector officer in charge of elections, reported ANI.

The sector officer has been suspended and the reserved EVM machine has been removed from the election process.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

South 24 Parganas records 12.89% polling as of 9.30 am 

Among the three districts voting on Tuesday in the third phase of Assembly polls, South 24 Parganas recorded the highest voter percentage at 12.89 percent. Howrah witnessed 9.67 percent polling whereas, Hooghly registered 8.87 percent turnout.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

10.25% turnout till 9.25 am 

According to the latest data released by the Election Commission, West Bengal recorded a voting percentage of 10.25 percent on Tuesday till 9.24 am in the third phase of Assembly polls.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Swapan Dasgupta, Kanti Ganguly among key candidates 

Total 205 candidates, including 13 women, have been fielded in the third phase of Bengal polls — prominent among them are TMC MLAs Ashima Patra (Dhanekhali) and Namita Saha ( Magrahat Purba), BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta (Tarakeswar) and CPM leader Kanti Ganguly (Raidighi).

Among these candidates, the TMC and BJP have fielded 31 candidates each; 13 each by the BSP and CPI(M); seven by the Congress; two by the All India Forward Bloc; one by the Revolutionary Socialist Party; 68 independents; and 39 from other parties.

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Modi appeals to people to vote in record numbers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the voters of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to vote in record numbers in the Assembly elections.

“Elections are taking place in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. I request the people in these places to vote in record numbers, particularly the young voters,” Modi tweeted.

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Voting underway in 31 seats

Voting is underway with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in 16 seats in South 24 Parganas district (part 2), seven in Howrah (part 1) and eight in Hooghly (part 1) on Tuesday.

West Bengal Election 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP’s Dipak Haldar casts vote in Diamond Harbour 

BJP candidate from Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas, Dipak Haldar, on Tuesday cast his  vote at Abdalpur FP Primary School in the district for the third phase of Bengal polls. 

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Cyclone Amphan to take centrestage in South 24-Parganas

The 16 seats in South 24 Parganas, going to the polls in this phase, are the most affected by cyclone Amphan that hit the state amid the lockdown last May. Significantly, these are TMC strongholds, having massive grassroots organisation, with many being part of Abhishek Banerjee’s Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat.

However, the allegations of corruption in Amphan relief and the rise of ISF in certain pockets are among the factors that are being closely watched for their potential to affect the TMC’s fortunes.

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618 companies of CAPF deployed

At least 618 companies of central forces will be deployed in this phase, Election Commission sources said, adding that all the booths have been identified as “sensitive”.

The EC allocated the highest 396 companies of central forces for the 5,544 booths in the three police districts in the South 24 Parganas – Baruipur, Diamond Harbour and Sundarban.

There will be 166 companies of central forces in Hooghly and 133 in the rural areas of Howrah.

West Bengal Election 2021 LATEST Updates

All Assembly seats marked as ‘sensitive’

Describing all 31 West Bengal Assembly constituencies where polls will be held on Tuesday as ‘‘sensitive’’, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, an official said.

The order prohibits public gatherings in the constituencies spread over parts of three districts on Tuesday when the third phase of elections will be held.

“A decision was taken to impose Section 144 of CrPC in all the 16 assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas (Part II), seven seats in Howrah (Part I) and eight seats in Hooghly (Part 1) where polling will be held tomorrow,” the official said.

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Timing of polling

In all, 10,871 polling stations have been set up in the 31 Assembly constituencies where elections will be held from 7 am to 6.30 pm.

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Polling in parts of Hooghly, Howrah and South 24 Parganas today

In this phase, elections will be held in parts of rural Howrah, the Sunderban region, the Diamond Harbour and Baruipur belts in the South 24 Parganas, and parts of the Hooghly district.

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BJP’s Swapan Dasgupta among 205 candidates in fray

Senior BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta, TMC minister Ashima Patra and former CPM minister Kanti Ganguly are among the 205 candidates whose campaigns for the third phase of elections in 31 seats in West Bengal ended on Sunday evening.

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Over 78 lakh voters to decide fate of 205 candidates

The stage is set for the third phase of the Assembly poll in West Bengal today (6 April, Tuesday) where over 78 lakh voters will decide the fate of 205 candidates in 31 seats across three districts — South 24 Parganas, Howrah, and Hooghly — go into polls.