West Bengal Polls: Over 76 Percent Voter Turnout Till 5:30 PM In Final Phase

The overall polling process has been peaceful so far barring a few stray incidents of violence. Earlier in the day, firecrackers were set off outside central Kolkata’s Mahajati Sadan, which were initially alleged to be crude bombs but the preliminary investigation revealed that banned firecrackers were set off and not bombs.

Kolkata: Over 76 percent voter turnout was recorded till 5:30 pm during polling for the eighth and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday.

The overall polling process has been peaceful so far barring a few stray incidents of violence. Earlier in the day, firecrackers were set off outside central Kolkata’s Mahajati Sadan, which were initially alleged to be crude bombs but the preliminary investigation revealed that banned firecrackers were set off and not bombs.

The people were seen standing in long queues in front of the polling stations right from the beginning. The voting, which began at 7 a.m., will be conducted till 6.30 p.m. in over 11,860 polling stations in 35 assembly constituencies spread over four districts.

READ: Breaking News Live: 76% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 5:30 PM In Last Phase Of Bengal Polls

Over 84.77 lakh voters, including 41.21 lakh women and 158 third gender persons, will decide the fate of 283 candidates, including 35 women, vying for the 35 assembly seats in the final phase.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has campaigned aggressively to conquer the throne of Kolkata, are contesting for all the 35 assembly seats.

The Congress, the Left Parties and their alliance partner Indian Secular Front are fighting under the banner of Sanyukta Morcha. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded 24 candidates, Congress - 19, CPI (M) - 10, ISF - four, AIFB - three and RSP - one while there are 87 independents along with 65 others in the fray.

All the necessary facilities and security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polling during this phase with the Election Commission deploying around 641 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces.

With a view to enhance transparency and credibility of the election process, the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is being used along with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at every polling station.

Besides, the option of postal ballot facility has been extended to the electors, who are Covid-19 positive or suspect as certified by competent authority and are in home or institutional quarantine along with those marked as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and above the age of 80 years.

The polling process is already over in 257 out of the total 294 Assembly seats in the earlier seven phases. The results will be declared on May 2.