West Bengal: Are elections more important than life? | Debate

On Friday, three Trinamool candidates - from Goalpokhar, Tapan and Jalpaiguri - tested positive for COVID-19. A BJP candidate - from the Matigara-Naxalbari seat - has also tested positive. The RSP's Jangipur candidate, Pradip Kumar Nandi, died Friday after testing positive earlier this week. The Congress' Rezaul Haque - standing from Murshidabad's Samsherganj also died from Covid-related complications.

The polling began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm amid tight security arrangements and Covid-19 guidelines put in place by the Election Commission. Security arrangements have been increased for this phase in view of the violence in Cooch Behar during voting in the fourth phase.