West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 Live Updates: The counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls in West Bengal ended on Wednesday evening amid tight security. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is all set to sweep the elections. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee thanked the people of the state for the TMC’s huge win in the panchayat elections.
Meanwhile, a fact-finding team of the BJP headed by former law minister Ravi Sankar Prasad arrived in Kolkata today to visit violence-hit areas.
Following the counting of votes, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday announced that the panchayat elections in West Bengal and the declarations of results “will be subject” to the “ultimate order” that it may pass with the petitions filed on poll-related violence and “electoral malpractices”.
The election was marred by violence as over 33 people were killed in political clashes across the state since the date of the panchayat polls was announced early last month. Of these, 18 people were killed on the day of polling on Saturday.
Polling was held on July 8 in over 61,000 booths for the three-tier panchayat elections, with a voter turnout of 80.71 per cent. In several places, ballot boxes were looted, set on fire and thrown in ponds, leading to violence. The extent of violence on voting day was such that repolling had to be done in nearly 696 booths. Over 5.6 crore people living in rural Bengal were eligible to cast their votes in the elections that saw over 206,000 candidates battling for 73,887 seats.
Bengal Panchayat Polls Results Live Updates: Read the latest updates of counting of votes across West Bengal and more.
Amid the counting of the votes for the West Bengal Panchayat Elections. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter and wrote, “Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri District of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance.”
Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri District of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 11, 2023
A bomb was hurled as violence erupted at a counting centre in Diamond Harbour in Bengal on counting day. The incident occurred in front of Fakirchand College. Additionally, Opposition parties have alleged that their counting agents were denied entry into the counting centre.
The security personnel opened a lathi charge to disperse a large number of people who gathered outside a polling station in Howrah. They were reportedly attempting to enter the counting centre.
#WATCH | West Bengal panchayat election | Security personnel open lathi charge to disperse a large number of people who gathered outside a polling station in Howrah. They were reportedly attempting to enter the counting centre.
— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023
Counting of votes of Panchayat election is taking… pic.twitter.com/j8HRWcnGLC
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is leading in the majority of gram panchayat and zila parishad seats, as per the initial trends. The BJP, Congress, and other political parties are yet to secure any seats. The counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats in West Bengal began at 8 am on Tuesday amid tight security.
VIDEO | West Bengal panchayat election results: Representatives of political parties arrive at a counting centre in Islampur town of North Dinajpur district. pic.twitter.com/TCIEcLahgW
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2023
The counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats in West Bengal began at 8 am on Tuesday amid tight security. There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts.
#WATCH | West Bengal Panchayat poll result 2023: Security deployed; visuals from Berhampore Girls College, Murshidabad. pic.twitter.com/JweuOBB09F
— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023
“There will be a relentless fight against growing violence in Bengal. Those who commit violence in the field will be made to curse the day they are born. All authorities will come down with a heavy hand on the goons and lawbreakers,” West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose told ANI.
“There will certainly be very stern action because this violence is affecting the future of the new generation. We will make Bengal a safer place for the new generation to live in,” he added.
#WATCH | Panchayat election | West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose says, "…We will certainly take stern action against the control room lords those who sit in political control rooms and guide or remote control the goons on the field. It will be an all-out action. There will be… pic.twitter.com/7fnIVidk8Y
— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023
The counting of votes began early on Monday morning and saw sporadic events of violence with people trying to barge into a few counting centres. Crude bombs were also hurled in Diamond Harbour. Police resorted to lathi charge in Howrah and Diamond Harbour to disperse the the crowd gathered outside the counting centres.