New Delhi: In the first phase of Assam and West Bengal, both states recorded a huge voter turnout in the first phase. 72.14% and 79.79% voter turnout were recorded till 6 pm in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively.
Bengal: 79.79 per cent polling in phase-I
West Bengal on Saturday recorded an estimated 79.79 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of Assembly elections till 6.30 pm, according to the Election Commission.
The polling ended at 6.30 pm and among the five districts in the state, Purba Medinipur recorded the highest voter turnout with 82.42 per cent till end of voting time. Meanwhile, Purulia recorded the lowest voter turnout with 77.13 per cent. Jhargram recorded 80.55 per cent, Paschim Medinipur 80.16 per cent and Bankura 80.03 per cent voter turnouts.
Stray incidents of violence were reported from some areas that voted in the state.
Polling for the first of the eight-phase assembly polls in the state began at 7 am today with voters turning up to deciding the fate of 191 candidates in 30 constituencies.
All constituencies in Purulia, Jhargram and segments of Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur are going to decide the electoral fate of 191 candidates, including 21 women candidates in the fray.
In the first phase, a total of 73,80,942 electorates will cast their votes including 7,52,938 male voters, 36,27,949 female voters, 55 of the third gender and 11,767 service electors.
The Election Commission has set up 10,288 polling stations, of which 8,229 are the main and 2,059 are auxiliary.
The state is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress-Left alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the fray.
Assam: 72.46% voter turnout in 1st phase
Polling for 47 seats in the first phase of Assembly elections ended with a voter turnout of 72.46 per cent recorded as of 6. 52 pm, according to the Election Commission.
Rupohihat constituency witnessed the highest voting percentage at 83 per cent while Sootea constituency saw the lowest voting percentage at 64 per cent, according to the latest trends. Bokakhat district reported the highest voter turnout at 80 per cent while Nazira reported the lowest voter turnout at 64 per cent.
Polling had begun at 7 am today. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal cast his vote at JP Nagar constituency in the Dibrugarh district. Assam, Congress Chief Ripun Bora cast his vote in the Gohpur district.
Over 81.09 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes at 1,1537 polling stations in this phase.
A total of 264 candidates are in the fray for 47 seats — 42 seats from 11 districts of upper Assam and northern Assam region and five seats from central Assam’s Nagaon district.
Polling for the next two phases will be held on April 1 and April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
