West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates: Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday sought to punch a hole in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s oft-repeated insider-outsider narrative, alleging that her “vote bank of illegal immigrants”, on whose support she wants to rule the state, was the actual outsiders. According to EC data, the highest polling percentage till 4 pm was reported from Purba Bardhaman at 75.20% followed by Uttar Dinajpur at 72.1% In Uttar Dinajpur’s Chopra area, shots were reportedly fired after clashes broke out between activists of the TMC and the BJP. Both the parties denied using any firearm. According to the EC data on voting percentage during phase 6 of Bengal polls, the turnout climbed up to 57.30 percent at 1.30 pm from 37.27 percent at 11 am on Thursday. While south Bengal is traditionally a TMC bastion, the BJP was able to make inroads in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls through the North 24 Parganas district with the promise to implement CAA. The district is made up of 33 Assembly constituencies and Mamata won 27 of them in 2016. Sporadic violence was reported from Bijpur, where TMC and BJP supporters clashed with each other outside polling booths. Both the parties accused each other of trying to rig votes. Amit Shah on a visit to Thakurbari pilgrimage site for the Matua community in February, assured that the implementation of CAA was only delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The BJP national vice president voted during the sixth phase of state Assembly polls at booth number 141 - at Kanchrapara Municipal Polytechnic High School - in Kanchrapara of North 24 Parganas district. Senior BJP leaders like Mukul Roy is contesting from Krishnanagar Uttar and Rahul Sinha from Habra. Sitting MLAs of the Samyukt Morcha, Ali Imran Ramz of All India Forward Bloc, is contesting from Chakulia in Uttar Dinjapur and Tanmoy Bhattacharya of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from Dum Dum Uttar. In North 24 Parganas and also in parts of Nadia like Bongaon Uttar, Bongaon Dakshin, Swarupnagar, Bagda and Krishnanagar Dakshin, there is a high concentration of Matua population. During the sixth phase of Bengal Assembly polls, polling will be held in both Uttar Dinajpur and Bardhaman Purba districts of north Bengal, Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts of south Bengal. Polling for 43 constituencies in the sixth phase of the West Bengal Assembly Election will begin today at 7 am with COVID-19 precautions and tight security. The election will seal the fate of 306 candidates spread across four districts North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Uttar Dinajpur and Purba Bardhaman. Over one crore voters are set to exercise their franchise in today’s elections at 14,480 polling stations. Of the total voters, 53.21 lakh are men, 50.65 lakh are women while 256 belong to the third gender Security measures have been heightened in view of the violence in the previous phases, particularly the killing of five people in Cooch Behar during the fourth phase of polling on 10 April, an Election Commission official told news agency PTI. Four people were killed in firing by the CISF while one person was killed by miscreants. To ensure free and fair voting in the sixth phase, the Election Commission has decided to deploy at least 1,071 companies of Central forces, he said. It will also put in place measures to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols during the voting process, the official said. West Bengal on Tuesday registered its highest-single- day spike of 9,819 new COVID-19 cases, taking the state’s total case count to 6,78,172, while the toll rose to 10,652 with 46 more succumbing to the disease. Matua strongholds to vote today Assembly seats in the Matua strongholds of Bongaon and Krishnanagar, close to the India-Bangladesh border, are among the segments going to the polls today. Matuas, who make up a large portion of Bengal’s Scheduled Caste population, had been migrating to the state since the 1950s, primarily due to religious persecution in erstwhile East Pakistan and later Bangladesh. Both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have pitched hard to gain the confidence of the Matuas in most of the 17 Assembly segments going to polls in this phase in North 24 Parganas district and some of the nine seats in Nadia. Apart from the implementation of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), two other aspects — identity politics and regional development — have also emerged as decisive factors this election, with bitter rivals TMC and the BJP seeking to woo the community with several promises. Apart from constituencies in North 24 Parganas and Nadia, elections will be held in nine seats in Uttar Dinajpur district and eight in Purba Bardhaman. Major contestants Prominent names in the sixth phase of the polls include BJP’s national vice president Mukul Roy (Krishnanagar North), TMC ministers Jyotipriyo Mallick (Habra) and Chandrima Bhattacharya and CPM leader Tanmay Bhattacharya (Dum Dum Uttar). The political fate of film director Raj Chakraborty and actor Koushani Mukherjee, who are the TMC’s candidates from the Barrackpore and the Krishnanagar North constituencies respectively, will also be decided in this phase of the election. Election follows curtailed campaigning A tough contest between the ruling TMC and its main rival BJP is on the cards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda and Bollywood star Mithun Chakraborty led the campaign of the saffron party, which has fortified into TMC’s main challenger in this election. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee spearheaded the TMC campaign along with her nephew and party’s youth wing chief Abhishek Banerjee. However, the Election Commission curtailed the daily campaign hours and extended the “silence period” from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three phases of the election in view of the Cooch Behar violence and the rising COVID-19 cases in the state. Given the surge in cases, political leaders and parties also called off their rallies or decided to hold them on a smaller scale. Following criticism from rival parties, the BJP on Monday announced that it will limit attendance at all public rallies of its leaders to 500 people. Banerjee had also decided to curtail her public meetings in all districts and hold only one rally in Kolkata o 26 April while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had days before testing positive, announced that all his rallies stand suspended. Last week, the CPM had also announced the cancellation of its rallies for the remaining three phases of the West Bengal polls. Meanwhile, the TMC urged the Election Commission to club the last three phases of the Assembly polls, which the poll panel rejected as not implementable. Elections have been held in 180 constituencies so far, and the remaining 114 seats are set to go to polls between 22 and 29 April. Votes will be counted on 2 May. With inputs from PTI
West Bengal election 2021 Updates: 79.04% of votes polled till 6 pm; Mamata says ‘won't surrender to two goons from Delhi’
West Bengal election 2021 LIVE Updates: Sporadic incidents of violence were reported on Thursday from various parts of West Bengal where voting is underway for the sixth phase of assembly elections
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West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
PM cancels trip to West Bengal tomorrow
Tomorrow, will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2021
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
PM cancels trip to West Bengal tomorrow
Tomorrow, will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2021
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
West Bengal records 72.08% polling till 5 pm
As per the data on the Voter Turnout app, the polling percentage was as follows in the four districts where constituencies have gone to polls in the sixth phase of Assembly election:
Nadia: 74 percent
North 24 Parganas: 70.57 percent
Purba Bardhaman: 76.36 percent
Uttar Dinajpur: 72.10 percent
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
In Naihati, bombs hurled at BJP leader’s residence
In the Halisahar area of the Naihati constituency, the saffron party alleged that bombs were hurled at the residence of a local BJP leader, whose mother and younger brother are known to have suffered injuries. The TMC and the BJP traded charges against each other.
In a separate incident in the area, a TMC worker was injured after unidentified miscreants hacked him.
In the Titagarh area of the Barrackpore constituency, clashes broke out between the TMC and the BJP supporters, following which bombs were hurled at each other, leading to severe injuries to five BJP activists. The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital, official sources told PTI.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Illegal immigrants are actual outsiders in Bengal but vote bank for Mamata: Amit Shah
Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday sought to punch a hole in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s oft-repeated insider-outsider narrative, alleging that her “vote bank of illegal immigrants”, on whose support she wants to rule the state, was the actual outsiders, reports PTI.
Shah also accused Banerjee of having no other agenda apart from hurling abuses at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and him.
“She dedicates 10 minutes of her speech in every election rally to abusing the PM and myself… I am the country’s home minister, can’t I talk to people? How am I an outsider?” he said at a public meeting in Harirampur constituency in Dakshin Dinajpur district, which goes to polls in the seventh phase on 26 April.
“I was born in this country and will be cremated on this holy land after my demise. But, your vote bank of illegal immigrants are the outsiders on whose support you want to rule Bengal,” he added.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Polling so far ’largely peaceful’, says report
An Election Commission official told India Today that stray incidents of violence have been reported from some parts of the state where voting is underway, but the overall situation is largely peaceful. Voting will be open till 6 pm.
Shots were reportedly fired after clashes broke out between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party activists on an alleged incident of heckling of polling booth agents. Both parties deny using firearms.
The office of the chief election officer seeks reports.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Amit Shah to hold 3 poll meeting, Dilip Ghosh to hold 4 roadshows today, says report
Even as coronavirus cases are surging at an alarming rate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend three poll meetings today, West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh has four roadshows scheduled and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari will participate in three roadshows in Kolkata, reports NDTV.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Bengal records 70.42% polling till 3.45 pm
As per the data on the Voter Turnout app, the polling percentage was as follows in the four districts where constituencies have gone to polls in the sixth phase of the Assembly election:
Nadia: 74 percent
North 24 Parganas: 65.13 percent
Purba Bardhaman: 75.20 percent
Uttar Dinajpur: 72.10 percent
_**Follow LIVE updates on voter percentage here**_West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC candidate tested COVID positive hours before polling started, say reports
As per multiple reports, a TMC candidate from Kharadha, Kajal Singh has been admitted to hospital after he tested positive, just hours before the polls opened on Thursday at 7 am.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Police force escorting voters to polling station
Police force escorting voters to Polling Station at Polling Station No. 243 of 274 Galai Assembly Constituency. Purba Bardhaman District.#WestBengalElections2021 @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @rajivkumarec @PIBKolkata pic.twitter.com/qjQmpiny7M
— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) April 22, 2021
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Stray violence reported in constituencies in Uttar Dinajpur
In Uttar Dinajpur’s Chopra area, shots were reportedly fired after clashes broke out between activists of the TMC and the BJP. Both the parties denied using any firearm.
The office of the CEO has sought a report on the incident from the local administration.
In Raiganj, sources in the TMC said one of the ruling party activists sustained serious injuries after he was allegedly stabbed by BJP workers. The saffron party, however, denied the allegations.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC’s Raj Chakraborty gheraoed in Barrackpore
Film director-turned-TMC candidate Raj Chakraborty was gheraoed in Barrackpore constituency by BJP supporters, who accused him of influencing voters. Chakraborty denied the allegations.
In Amdanga constituency, country-made crude bombs were recovered by police personnel. Over 1.03 crore voters are set to decide the political fate of 306 candidates in the sixth phase.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Voter turnout till 1.30 pm nears 60%
According to the Election Commission’s data on voting percentage during phase 6 of West Bengal polls, the turnout climbed up to 57.30 percent at 1.30 pm from 37.27 percent at 11 am on Thursday.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Won’t allow two goons from Delhi to run the state, says Mamata
I am not a player, but I know how to play. I was the best player in the Lok Sabha earlier. We cannot surrender our Bengal to two goons of Delhi, said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing a public rally in Dakshin Dinajpur.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Matua votes constitute nearly 20% Bengal’s population
Matuas constitute nearly 20 percent of West Bengal’s entire population and are spread over five districts — North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Howrah and Dinajpur.
In at least 30 seats in North 24 Parganas, Nadia and some parts in Howrah of south Bengal, Matuas make up more than 40-50 percent of the total population.
While south Bengal, with 151 constituencies, is traditionally Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s green fort, BJP was able to make inroads here in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls through the North 24 Parganas district with the promise to implement CAA. The district is made up of 33 Assembly constituencies and Mamata won 27 of them in 2016.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
43 seats in phase 6 contributed to BJP’s vote share jump in 2019 LS polls
The 43 Assembly seats voting in the sixth phase of Bengal polls had hugely contributed to the jump in the BJP’s vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. From 10 percent in the 2016 Assembly polls, the BJP had cornered 41 percent votes in 2019.
The Trinamool Congress won 32 of 43 seats in 2016 polls. However, in 2019, it led in 24 segments only. The BJP, which did not win a single seat in 2016, led in 19 segments.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Sporadic violence reported in Barrackpore, Naihati
Several incidents of crude bombs explosions were reported in Barrackpore industrial belt in North 24 Parganas distriict during the sixth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls on Wednesday.
In the Halisahar area of Naihati constituency, the saffron party alleged that bombs were hurled at the residence of a local BJP leader. His mother and younger brother were reportedly injuried.
Both the TMC and the BJP traded charges against each other.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC and BJP supporters clash in North 24 Parganas
Sporadic violence was reported from Bijpur constituency in North 24 Parganas, where TMC and BJP supporters clashed with each other outside polling booths. Both the parties accused each other of trying to rig votes.
Two supporters of the TMC and three of the BJP were reportedly injured in the clashes.
A huge contingent of security forces was rushed to the troubled areas to control the situation.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
37.27 turnout till 11.30 am
According to the Election Commission’s latest data on voting percentage during the sixth phase of Assembly polls in Bengal, the state recorded a turnout of 37.27 percent as of 11.30 on Thursday.
Uttar Dinajpur – 40.98%
Nadia – 38.09%
North 24 Parganas – 32.91%
Purba Bardhaman – 41.05%
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
A****mit Shah urges people to vote in maximum numbers
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday urged voters in West Bengal to exercise their franchise in the sixth phase of the Assembly election.
“I appeal to all the voters of the sixth phase of Bengal, especially the youth, to vote fearlessly for the bright future of Bengal in maximum numbers. Your one vote is the foundation stone for providing rights to the poor and deprived of Bengal and making the state a leader in development,” tweeted Shah.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Polling underway in North Dinajpur’s Chopra
Polling underway in Chopra, North Dinajpur during the sixth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections pic.twitter.com/7ji6tHFwVk
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP and TMC tussle over CAA implementation; vying for Matua votes
Since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, both the BJP and the TMC have tried to outdo each other to woo the Matuas. In 2019, the BJP managed to get a foothold in the 24 North Parganas, which is part of the southern region of the state and a TMC bastion.
This, BJP leaders said, was because of the support they got from the Matuas, on the basis of the promise of a Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, which promised citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists and Jains coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The CAA has been passed in Parliament but is yet to be implemented on the ground. Union home minister Amit Shah on a visit to Thakurbari pilgrimage site for the Matua community in February, assured that the process was only delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Jute mill workers in North 24 Parganas to vote today
Some of the constituencies in North 24 Parganas, particularly those located on the banks of the river Hooghly, has centuries-old jute mills in places like Naihati, Bhatpara, Jagaddal and Barrackpore and an electorate comprising all communities of all religions.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
17.19% turnout till 9.30 am
According to the Election Commission’s latest data on voting percentage during the sixth phase of Assembly polls in Bengal, the state recorded a turnout of 17.19 percent as of 9.30 am on Thursday.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
PM appeals to people to vote in ’large numbers’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday urged voters in West Bengal to exercise their franchise as the sixth phase of assembly polls got underway in the state.
Polling began at 7 am on Thursday for 43 seats, including 17 in North 24 Parganas district and nine in Nadia – most of which have a significant presence of the Matuas, who can decisively sway the results in any party’s favour.
Besides, elections are also being held on the nine seats of Uttar Dinajpur district and eight of Purba Bardhaman.
Modi tweeted, “The people of West Bengal are voting to elect a new assembly. On the sixth phase today, urging those whose seats are polling to exercise their franchise.”
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
779 companies of CAPF deployed
The campaigning for 43 Assembly constituencies going to polls in the sixth phase ended on Monday. The ECI extended the silent period from 48 hours to 72 hours for the remaining phases. The Election Commission deployed 779 companies of central forces for this phase.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Who are the Matua people?
The Matua people form a sect of Vaisnavite Hinduism and are Namasudras, a Scheduled Caste group, with ancestry that can be traced back to the eastern part of undivided Bengal. After the Partition in 1947, many of the Matua migrated to West Bengal in India.
The Matua population is estimated at 50 million, of which about 30 million are in West Bengal alone and 15 million are listed as voters. Tracing their roots to 19th century undivided Bengal, they are considered to have the power to swing elections in as many as 30 Assembly seats and can have a significant impact on another 50.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Full list of 43 constituencies to vote in phase 6 today
In Phase 6 of the Bengal Assembly elections, 43 seats across four districts – Uttar Dinajpur, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Bardhaman – go into polls. These are further divided as follows:
9 seats in Uttar Dinajpur – Chopra, Islampur, Goalpokhar, Chakulia, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj, Raiganj, and Itahar.
9 seat in Nadia – Karimpur, Tehatta, Palashipara, Kaliganj, Nakashipara, Chapra, Krishnanagar Uttar, Nabadwip, and Krishnanagar Dakshin.
17 seats in North 24 Parganas – Bagda, Bongaon Uttar, Bongaon Dakshin, Gaighata, Swarupnagar, Baduria, Habra, Ashokenagar, Amdanga, Bijpur, Naihati, Bhatpara, Jagatdal, Noapara, Barrackpore, Khardaha, and Dum Dum Uttar.
8 seats in Purba Bardhaman – Bhatar, Purbasthali Dakshin, Purbasthali Uttar, Katwa, Ketugram, Mangalkot, Ausgram, and Galsi.
_**Read full article here…**_West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Key candidates in phase 6 of Bengal polls
A total of 306 contestants are in the poll fray including Trinamool Congress Ministers like Jyotipriya Mullick from Habra and Chandrima Bhattacharya from Dum Dum Uttar Assembly seats in North 24 Parganas.
Senior BJP leaders like Mukul Roy is contesting from Krishnanagar Uttar and Rahul Sinha from Habra. Sitting MLAs of the Samyukt Morcha, Ali Imran Ramz of All India Forward Bloc, is contesting from Chakulia in Uttar Dinjapur and Tanmoy Bhattacharya of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from Dum Dum Uttar.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mukul Roy casts vote in phase 6, contesting from Krishnanagar Uttar
BJP national vice president Mukul Roy voted during the sixth phase of state Assembly polls at booth number 141 – at Kanchrapara Municipal Polytechnic High School – in Kanchrapara of North 24 Parganas district.
West Bengal: BJP national vice president Mukul Roy casts his vote for the sixth phase of state Assembly polls at booth number 141 - at Kanchrapara Municipal Polytechnic High School - in Kanchrapara of North 24 Parganas district.#WestBengalElections pic.twitter.com/gDp5z1VYsS
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
CAA implementation key poll plank for BJP
The main poll plank of the BJP is the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and infiltration, particularly in the border areas, whereas the Trinamool Congress, along with highlighting its welfare schemes, has been campaigning against the implementation of CAA and the National Register of Citizens.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC, BJP to contest on all 43 Assembly seats
The TMC and the BJP are contesting all the 43 Assembly seats in Phase 6 of the West Bengal polls.
Both the TMC and the BJP have pitched hard to gain the confidence of Matuas, who make for a large chunk of the state’s Scheduled Caste population, in most of the 17 Assembly segments going to polls in this phase in North 24 Parganas district and some of the nine seats in Nadia.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Matua bastions in fray for phase 6
In North 24 Parganas and also in parts of Nadia like Bongaon Uttar, Bongaon Dakshin, Swarupnagar, Bagda and Krishnanagar Dakshin, there is a high concentration of Matua population. Most of the Assembly seats going to polls on Thursday are reserved for Scheduled Castes. Of the 43 Assembly seats, nine are in reserved category.
Since the past two years, Bongaon, a sub-division in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district bordering Bangladesh, is witnessing a new identity politics around the Matua sect, a Scheduled Caste religious group with origins in Bangladesh.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP’s Arjun and Pawan Singh cast vote in Jagatdal today
West Bengal BJP vice president Arjun Singh voted at booth number 144 in Jagatdal of North 24 Parganas on Thursday during the sixth phase of Bengal Assembly polls. His son and party’s candidate from Bhatpara, Pawan Singh also voted today.
West Bengal BJP vice president Arjun Singh casts his vote at booth number 144 in Jagatdal of North 24 Parganas. His son and party's candidate from Bhatpara, Pawan Singh also casts his vote.
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
Voting for the sixth phase of #WestBengalPolls is taking place today. pic.twitter.com/Vz3KKbKzwg
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Uttar Dinajpur seats in north Bengal bordering Bangladesh and Bihar
Several Assembly constituencies of Uttar Dinajpur district like Chopra, Islampur, Goalpokhar and Chakulia border Bangladesh on one side and Bihar on another. The narrow stretch of land connecting north and south Bengal, often referred as ‘chicken’s neck’, has a strategic importance and is also inhabited by people of all religions and ethnicities.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Assembly seats voting today spread across both north and south Bengal
During the sixth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls, polling will be held in both Uttar Dinajpur and Bardhaman Purba districts of north Bengal, Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts of south Bengal.
Nine seats in Uttar Dinjapur and Nadia each will go to polls on Thursday along with 17 constituencies in North 24 Parganas district and eight in Purba Bardhaman district.
West Bengal election 2021 LATEST Updates
Voting in 43 seats across four districts in phase 6 today
Polling for 43 constituencies in the sixth phase of the West Bengal Assembly Election will begin at 7 am on Thursday with COVID-19 precautions and tight security. The election will seal the fate of 306 candidates spread across four districts North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Uttar Dinajpur and Purba Bardhaman.
