As the second phase of voting in West Bengal progresses, the voter turnout stands at 18.39% by 9 a.m. Polling commenced at 7 a.m. across 142 constituencies spanning six districts, including Kolkata, the state capital. The day started with minor tensions in some areas.
In South Kolkata’s Bhabanipur constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, are in a fierce contest, the Chief Minister’s brother, Kartik Banerjee, was cautioned by central forces for gathering with more people than allowed near a police station. Central forces advised against assembling with more than four individuals near a polling station simultaneously.
In the adjacent Rashbehari constituency, also in South Kolkata, there were reports of mild tension as Trinamool Congress activists allegedly hindered Congress booth agents from entering a specific polling booth. Congress accused ruling party activists of ‘hooliganism’ in the Rashbehari Assembly constituency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media on Wednesday morning, urging voters in the 142 Assembly constituencies to participate actively. He emphasized the importance of a vibrant democracy and encouraged women and youth in West Bengal to turn out in large numbers to vote.
Tension escalated in Singur, Hooghly district, with outgoing Trinamool Congress legislator Bencharam Manna staging a protest outside the local police station, alleging security force excesses. Additionally, polling at a booth in the Santipur Assembly constituency, Nadia district, experienced a delay due to an EVM malfunction.
Mock polling, a pre-requisite to the actual voting process, was conducted at all polling booths. The second phase of the Assembly polls in West Bengal, held under tight security, covers districts including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, Nadia, and East Burdwan.
