Kolkata, April 29: The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections took place on Wednesday, covering 142 seats. Voter enthusiasm was notably high, with the Election Commission reporting a turnout of approximately 78.68% by the evening.
Earlier, by 1 PM, the first six hours recorded a turnout of 61.11%. This figure was slightly lower than the 62.18% turnout recorded during the first phase on April 23 for 152 seats. However, as the day progressed, voter participation increased significantly, reaching 78.68% by 3 PM.
By 1 PM, the highest voter turnout was observed in the Purba Bardhaman district at 66.80%. This was followed by Hooghly at 64.57%, Nadia at 61.41%, Howrah at 60.68%, North Kolkata at 60.18%, North 24 Parganas at 59.20%, South 24 Parganas at 58.58%, and South Kolkata at 57.73%.
While there were sporadic reports of violence and disturbances at some polling stations, no major incidents have been reported so far. The situation remained largely under control, thanks to the strict monitoring by central forces and the deployment of 142 general observers and 95 police observers.
In the midst of voting, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sayoni Ghosh launched a sharp attack on the central government and the BJP regarding the heavy deployment of CRPF in the state. She stated that the election atmosphere in Bengal resembled a war zone.
In an interview, Ghosh sarcastically remarked on the CRPF presence, suggesting that only the Navy and Air Force were missing, emphasizing the overwhelming military presence as if there were a war in Bengal.
She claimed this reflects the BJP’s growing anxiety, asserting that the party realizes it is losing its grip on Bengal, which is why it is resorting to such strategies during the elections.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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