The polling percentage in the first four hours of the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections stood at 39.97% by 11 a.m., slightly lower than the 41.1% recorded during the first phase. District-wise, East Burdwan recorded the highest percentage at 44.50%, followed by Hooghly at 43.12% and Nadia at 40.34%.
Incidentally, this polling percentage is notably higher than the average of 28.10% recorded during the same period in the seven-phase 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Union Home Minister contacted the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, to inquire about the polling progress in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata.
Sporadic tension persists in the hyper-sensitive Bhangar Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team arrived in relation to their investigations into cases involving an explosion and recovery of crude bombs before the second phase of polling. The BJP requested repolling at Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas following disputes between the Election Commission of India (ECI)-appointed police observer and the Trinamool Congress candidate.
In North 24 Parganas’ Kanchrapara, a Trinamool Congress councillor engaged in an altercation with an Independent candidate near a polling booth. Subsequently, a scuffle broke out between them, leading to police intervention. In Nadia’s Chapra Assembly constituency, a Trinamool Congress polling agent was arrested by central forces for allegedly influencing voters.
