The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections ended on Saturday, 27 March, with nearly 80 percent voter turnout recorded till 5:30 PM. Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders met Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata, following the alleged attack on BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's brother, Soumendu Adhikari.
The 30 of 294 seats polling in the first phase are spread across the districts of Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, East Midnapore and West Midnapore. This area is popularly known as the Jangalmahal and has a high Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population.
- Mamata Banerjee accused PM Modi of attempting to seek votes from a section of people in the state while he was on a visit to Bangladesh
- Tensions are high in East Midnapore after two security personnel were injured in a firing incident ahead of polls
- The BJP has alleged TMC of ‘influencing voters’ in East Midnapore
- BJP claims Soumendu Adhikari’s vehicle was attacked in Contai and a driver was beaten up
- The results for the elections will be declared on 2 May
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
TMC Worker Alleges BJP Entered Booth Before Sealing of EVMs; BJP Worker Says 'Ensuring EVMs Are Protected'
As the first phase of polling in West Bengal Assembly elections ended on Saturday, 27 March, the workers of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) gathered outside Nirmal Hirday Ashram School polling booth in Medinipur assembly constituency in Paschim Medinipur.
As per ANI, a TMC worker alleged that after voting concluded and before the EVMs were sealed, “two BJP workers entered the booth but central forces did not stop them.”
"The two BJP workers were removed from the booth when we protested and called media persons. Central forces are working in a biased manner," the TMC worker alleged.
Meanwhile, a BJP worker reportedly said that they were there to ensure that the “EVMs are protected.”
First Phase of Polling in West Bengal Elections Ends
The first phase of polling in West Bengal Assembly elections ended on Saturday, 27 March. Nearly 80 percent voter turnout was recorded till 5:30 pm.
BJP, TMC Workers Clash in Nandigram, At Least 3 Injured
On Saturday, 27 March, the workers of Bhartiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress allegedly clashed in Nandigram in West Bengal, police said, PTI reported.
At least three people were reportedly injured.
West Bengal Elections: 79.79% Voter Turnout Till 5:30 PM
Nearly 80 percent voter turnout has been recorded till 5:30 pm, in the first phase of polling in West Bengal Assembly elections.