High voter participation recorded across 142 seats; sporadic unrest reported while authorities warn of action in tampering cases.
West Bengal: West Bengal witnessed an impressive voter turnout of 91.41 per cent by 7 pm in the second and final phase of Assembly polling, even as isolated incidents of violence were reported from a few pockets.
Notably, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal indicated that repolling could be ordered in booths where electronic voting machines are found to have been tampered with. “Appropriate action will be taken after verification,” he said, signalling strict monitoring of the process.
This phase holds particular political weight, as it covers 142 constituencies across seven key districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, and the 24 Parganas, regions widely regarded as the Trinamool Congress’s stronghold. Consequently, the outcome is being closely watched as a critical test of the ruling party’s dominance in South Bengal.
At the centre of attention is the high-profile contest in Bhabanipur, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Additionally, several senior TMC leaders, including Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Shashi Panja and Bratya Basu, are also in the fray, adding to the stakes.
Despite reports of tension in certain areas, polling largely proceeded smoothly, with strong voter participation reflecting high public engagement. As the counting day approaches, the focus now shifts to whether the ruling party can retain its grip or if the opposition manages to make inroads.
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