West Bengal: Phase 3 Sees Voter Turnout of 79.22 Percent Till 5 PM

Polling will be held for 62 seats, including seven constituencies in Kolkata. (Photo: PTI)

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Polling Ends for Phase 3; 79.22 Percent Voter Turnout Recorded

The Election Commission of India reported that a total voter turnout of 79.22 percent was recorded in the third phase of West Bengal Assembly election despite reports of violence in various polling stations.

In the third phase of West Bengal assembly polls, some instances of clashes were reported among the political workers. Few cases of throwing of crude bombs were also reported. FIRs have been lodged against culprits in all cases. 

<b>Sandeep Saxena, Election Commission of India</b>

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 8:17 PM

EC Orders FIR Against 3 TMC Leader, 1 Arrested

Election Commission (EC) has ordered to file an FIR against TMC’s Razzak Molla over his derogatory remarks against BJP leader Roopa Ganguly. EC also registered a case against Ex-MP from TMC, Mannan Hossain, for violation of Model Code of Conduct.

EC had also ordered FIR against TMC leader Anwar Khan for supporting the party supporters against the officials of Election Commission. Khan was later arrested.

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 8:22 PM

Babul Supriyo Accuses ECI of Not Ensuring Fair Elections

Union Minister Babul Supriyo has accused that free and fair polling is not being conducted in 30-40 percent of the polling stations. He alleged that Election Commission of India (ECI) is not doing its job properly.

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 5:37 PM

TMC Workers Heckle Babul Supriyo in Kolkata

Union Minister Babul Supriyo heckled by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in Kolkata during the 3rd phase of West Bengal Assembly polls. The TMC workers have alleged that Union Minister entered the polling booth with a large number of people.

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 5:40 PM

EC records 67.80 percent in the third face of West Bengal polls till 3 pm.

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 5:07 PM

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EC records 56.08% voting till 1pm.

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 2:09 PM

Poll Violence

One CPI(M) worker died after a crude bomb was allegedly hurled by TMC workers in Jitpur village is Domkal area of Murshidabad district.

In Domkal Assembly seat of Murshidabad, the body of a 35-year-old CPI(M) polling agent was found lying outside a polling booth at Shibapara area. CPI(M) candidate and former minister Anisur Rahman said the man identified as Tahidur Islam was killed when bombs were hurled outside the polling booth.

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 4:56 PM

39.76% voting in the third phase of polling in West Bengal till 11 am.

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 12:41 PM

Third Phase Polling Begins

With one lakh security personnel deployed to look after law and order, polling for the crucial third phase of West Bengal Assembly election began today at 7 AM.

Polling will be held for 62 seats, including seven constituencies in Kolkata.

Altogether 418 candidates, including 34 female, are in the fray in the 62 seats spread over Murshidabad, Nadia, Burdwan districts and north Kolkata.

Over 1.37 crore voters, including 65.8 lakh females, are registered in the electoral rolls at these constituencies.

Voting began at 7 AM in 16,461 polling stations and will go on till 6 PM.

Key candidates whose fate will be sealed today include Trinamool ministers Shashi Panja and Sadhan Pande, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha, five-time Congress MLA Md Sohrab, CPI-M MLA Anisur Rahman and retired IPS officer Nazrul Islam.

(Graphics: The Quint/Lijumol Joseph)

Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 8:49 AM

The one lakh security personnel include 75,000 central forces.

The Election Commission has identified 3,401 vulnerable hamlets in the phase where extra security and confidence building measures were taken.

Based on complaints received from the electorate, 6,095 voters have been identified as vulnerable after which action has been taken against 4,094 trouble-mongers.

To avoid the scorching sun as the day progresses, many voters were ready to exercise their franchise early in the morning.

Several districts are reeling under a heatwave. Even in the city, the weatherman has predicted 39 degrees Celsius temperature on the polling day.

The opposition is relying on Murshidabad district, which has been a Congress stronghold. Besides the Vivekananda flyover collapse in the city, the Narada sting operation and Saradha chit fund scam have put the ruling Trinamool Congress in a tight spot.

Polling will be held in three more phases ending on 5 May.

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Updated at:21st Apr, 2016 at 8:37 AM