Polling commenced in West Bengal across 152 Assembly constituencies spanning 16 districts. Gautam Deb, Trinamool Congress candidate for Siliguri Assembly constituency and Mayor of Siliguri, highlighted issues with polling arrangements. He mentioned the relocation of railway employees without ballot papers, raising concerns. Pabitra Kar, TMC candidate from Nandigram, described the polling process as generally smooth, emphasizing the local tradition of voting.
Voters in the state faced a two-stage verification process involving Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and booth-level officers (BLOs) to ensure secure and efficient voting. Despite some reports of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at the start of polling, the process was mostly peaceful during the initial hours. Election officials are actively addressing any technical glitches to maintain the smooth conduct of voting.
The ongoing first phase of polling holds significance in this closely contested election, with political parties closely monitoring voter turnout and responses at the booth level. The second phase, covering the remaining 142 Assembly constituencies, is scheduled for April 29, with vote counting set for May 4. The high participation levels observed at polling stations indicate strong public engagement in the electoral process.
