Phase 1 Of West Bengal Election Underway Amid Heavy Security & Covid Norms, PM Modi Urges People To Vote In 'Record Numbers'

The elections are being held following Covid-19 guidelines in all nine seats in Purulia, four in Bankura, four in Jhargram and six in Paschim Medinipur, besides the seven seats in high-stakes Purba Medinipur.

Voting underway at a polling centre in Purulia for the first phase of West Bengal Election 2021. (ANI Photo)

New Delhi: The first phase of voting began in West Bengal at 7 am on Saturday amid tight security, officials said. The polls are taking place for 30 seats where the fate of 191 candidates is to be decided by the voters.

In the first phase of the West Bengal assembly election 2021, a total of 73,80,942 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise - of them, 37,52,938 are male and 36,27,949 female, while there are 55 third gender voters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to urge voters for exercising their franchise in "record numbers".

The elections are being held following Covid-19 guidelines in all nine seats in Purulia, four in Bankura, four in Jhargram and six in Paschim Medinipur, besides the seven seats in high-stakes Purba Medinipur.

The polling which began at 7 am will continue till 6 pm. There tight security deployment with the Election Commission posting around 730 companies of central forces, guarding 10,288 polling booths placed in 7,061 premises.

Each company of the central forces consists of 100 personnel, officials informed. Besides this, 22,092 state police officers have also been deployed at strategic locations.

Trinamool Congress is contesting 29 of the 30 seats. As for the remaining one, it is supporting an Independent in the Joypur assembly segment in Purulia because the nomination of its official candidate Ujjwal Kumar was rejected by the EC due to a discrepancy. Similarly, the BJP is also contesting 29 seats and supporting the candidate of Jharkhand's AJSU Party in Baghmundi.

The Left-Congress-ISF alliance has candidates in all 30 seats while there are reports of "friendly fights" in some.

Recently, West Bengal witnessed violent political clashes between the TMC and BJP supporters where lives have been lost on both sides. Looking at the tense situation, the Election Commission opted for deploying such a massive number of central forces.

As per officials, tension was already visible at Tulsidi village in Purulia's Bandwan as an election vehicle was set on fire hours before polls began. Forces are at present keeping a close vigil in the area that is surrounded by forests that were once the hideouts of Maoists, officials said.

West Bengal is voting in eight phases for 294 seats. The votes will be counted and announced on May 2.

(With Agency Inputs)