West Bengal Assembly Election Phase 5 Voting Live Updates: Trinamool Congress has written to the Election Commission accusing the BJP of illegally taping the phone of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It urged the EC to take suitable action against the BJP over the issue. Earlier, the BJP had released an audio in which Banerjee could be heard asking TMC’s Cooch Behar leader to carry out rally with the dead bodies of those killed in CISF firing. On the other hand, the BJP today met the Election Commission over the purported audio seeking action against the CM. “As far as the authenticity of the tape is concerned, Derek O’Brien and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy confirmed it in a conversation with media. The only goal of the tape was to create further polarisation,” said Shishir Bajoria of BJP after meeting Election Commission in Kolkata. The party has urged the Election Commission to examine the issue immediately and constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for carrying out a detailed investigation in this regard.
Over 78 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 5.30 pm in the fifth phase of polls which is being held amid tight security arrangements in West Bengal after the Cooch Behar incident. Security measures have been heightened for phase five in view of the violence in the previous phase, which witnessed the death of five people in Cooch Behar, including four in CISF firing. The Election Commission has deployed at least 853 companies of central forces to ensure free and fair voting. The polling began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. There are 342 candidates in the fray for the Phase-V polls. Over one crore voters will decide the political fate of 342 candidates in the fifth phase of polls. Voting will be held at 15,789 polling stations in the 45 constituencies. Prominent names include Siliguri Mayor and Left Front leader Ashok Bhattacharya, state ministers Gautam Deb and Bratya Basu and BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya. Of the 45 constituencies going to polls, 16 seats in North 24 Parganas, eight in Purba Bardhaman, eight in Nadia, seven in Jalpaiguri, five in Darjeeling and one in Kalimpong district.
West Bengal Election Phase-5 Live: 78.36 per cent voter turnout recorded till 5.30 pm
Convoy of Raju Banerjee, BJP candidate from Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas, attacked during fifth phase of voting. "Bomb & stones have been thrown at me. I have lodged a complaint with Election Commission," he says.
West Bengal Election Phase-5 Live: Around 76.99 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 5 pm
I came here today after travelling all over Bengal. I can tell you, Didi is certainly going on May 2 and BJP is forming the government with more than 200 seats: Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah in Ausgram, West Bengal
West Bengal Election Live: TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty casts her vote at a polling booth in Jalpaiguri, in the fifth phase of the State's Assembly election
Trinamool Congress (TMC) writes to Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal over "recording of phone conversation between CM Mamata Banerjee and Partha Pratim Ray", asks EC to take necessary action
TMC goons stopped me here at Nayapatti. They are also stopping the voters even as polling is underway: BJP candidate from Bidhan Nagar, Sabyasachi Dutta, in the assembly constituency
West Bengal Election Live: 54.70 per cent voter turnout recorded till 1 pm
West Bengal Election Live: Trinamool Congress delegation comprising Yashwant Sinha, Derek O'Brien and Purnendu Basu to meet CEO, West Bengal today, to submit a memorandum.
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West Bengal Election Live: As far as the authenticity of the tape is concerned, Derek O'Brien and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy confirmed it in a conversation with media. The only goal of the tape was to create further polarisation. It is requested that the Commission may examine the issue immediately and constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for carrying out a detailed investigation in this regard: BJP writes to West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer
West Bengal Election Live: State records over 36 per cent polling till 11 am
West Bengal Election Live: Two of our people were injured in stone-pelting by BJP supporters at booth numbers 265 & 272. We have informed the election observer and police. The situation is normal now: TMC's Sujit Bose, Bidhan Nagar
West Bengal Election Live: BJP doesn't have people's support in Bengal. They don't have much influence on ground zero. How can they form the government? Politics is not possible through violence, vandalism, shooting. Politics should be simple. I supported BJP for 15 years but what did it do for my community? Modi had assured us and made a commitment, it has been 6.5-7 years now but it is yet to be completed: GJM (Gorkhaland Janmukti Morcha) leaders Bimal Gurung
West Bengal Election Live: Election Commission has sought a report over the sudden death of a BJP polling agent at booth number 107 in Kamarhati today. "His name is Abhijeet Samant. Nobody helped him, there is no facility for treatment here," says brother of the deceased BJP polling agent.
West Bengal Election Live: 16.27 per cent voting recorded till 9 am
West Bengal Election Live: I've full authority to enter a polling booth. They (Central forces) even searched my pocket in which I was carrying pictures of my goddess.This is a democratic country. I'm going to meet Chief Election Commissioner, said TMC leader and candidate Madan Mitra who was allegedly searched at booth no. 165/166 Kamarhati
West Bengal Election Live: BJP to meet Election Commission today in Kolkata, on CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee's purported audio clip over Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar violence.
West Bengal Election Live: Social distancing is being maintained by the Electors at Polling Station No. 36 (Upper Ladam Prathamik Pathshala) of 22 Kalimpong Assembly Constituency of Kalimpong District.
West Bengal Election Live: Bengal Minister and TMC candidate from Bidhannagar, Sujit Bose visits polling booth in East Calcutta Girls College in the assembly constituency, as polling in the fifth phase of assembly elections is underway
West Bengal Election Live: TMC leader Madan Mitra casts his vote at a polling booth in Kamarhati
West Bengal Election Live: PM Modi urges people to vote in large numbers
West Bengal Election Live: TMC leader Madan Mitra offers prayers at Dakshineshwar Kali Temple in North 24 Paraganas
West Bengal Election Live: Voters queue up outside Hiralal Mazumder Memorial College for Women - designated as a polling booth - in Dakshineswar, Kolkata
West Bengal Election Live: It looks like 'khela shesh' so far. We're keeping a watch. As far as the Hills and our problems are concerned, we want that this government be changed; we want BJP government, we want justice, says Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) president Mann Ghising, in Darjeeling
West Bengal Assembly Elections Live: Voters queue outside polling booth 263 in Bardhaman South in Phase 5 polls
West Bengal Election Live: Polling underway at Booth number 263 in Darjeeling during the fifth phase
West Bengal Election Live: Voters queue up to cast their votes as 5th phase of polling begins; visuals from Kamarhati