West Bengalrecorded a robust 78.77% voter turnout by 3 pm in the first phase of Assembly elections on Thursday, despite reports of sporadic violence, allegations of intimidation, and attacks on candidates in some areas. Polling began at 7 am across 152 constituencies spread over 16 districts, with long queues seen at booths through the day. Voter participation climbed steadily, from 18.76% in the first two hours to 41.11% by 11 am, 62.18% by 1 pm, and nearing 79% by mid-afternoon. Officials indicated the final turnout could rise further as voting continued into the evening.
A total of 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, are in the fray in this phase of the 294-member Assembly election.
The contest is being closely watched as it could determine whether Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee secures a fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister or if the Bharatiya Janata Party makes a long-awaited breakthrough in the state. The election is widely seen as a high-stakes face-off between the incumbent Trinamool Congress and a resurgent BJP.
Of the 152 seats voting in this phase, 54 are in north Bengal districts such as Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Malda -- regions often viewed as BJP strongholds. The remaining 98 seats span districts including Murshidabad, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, West Bardhaman and Birbhum, traditionally considered Trinamool Congress territory.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJP had won 59 of these 152 seats, while the Trinamool Congress secured 93.
Polling across Tamil Nadu continued steadily on Thursday, with around 70% voter turnout recorded by 3 pm. Officials described the process as largely peaceful, with only minor issues such as technical glitches in voting machines and limited facilities for differently abled voters reported from some locations. The state’s 5.73 crore electorate is voting at 75,064 polling stations, with 4,023 candidates in the fray for the 234-member Assembly.
The election has drawn significant attention, featuring a mix of veteran leaders and fresh faces. Chief Minister MK Stalin is leading the DMK-led alliance in its bid to retain power, while Edappadi K. Palaniswami is heading the campaign for the AIADMK-led opposition. Udhayanidhi Stalin has emerged as a prominent face of the party’s next generation, and actor-turned-politician Vijay is contesting his first election.
The primary contest remains between the DMK-led bloc and the AIADMK-led alliance, which is seeking a return to power. The DMK and its allies have fielded 164 candidates, including several new entrants in constituencies they lost in 2021.
Voting is scheduled to conclude at 6 pm on April 23, after which all Electronic Voting Machines will be transported to 62 designated counting centres across the state. The results of this closely fought election will be announced on May 4.
The Election Commission of India has imposed a ban on the conduct and publication of exit polls for the ongoing Assembly elections across five states. The restriction is in effect from 7 am on April 9 until 6:30 pm on April 29, covering the entire polling period. Results will be declared on May 4.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
