West Bengal Elections 2021 Phase 5 LIVE updates: Voting concludes with a turnout of 78.36%

West Bengal: Barasat SP submits report to Special Police Observer on the alleged incident of 'blank firing by CRPF personnel' deputed at a booth in Deganga constituency; says, "the allegation is found to be not based on facts".

Polling in 15,789 polling stations spread across 45 assembly constituencies in West Bengal phase-5 elections, bye-election in two parliamentary constituencies and 12 assembly constituencies across 10 States conducted peacefully today: Election Commission

As per turnout app, voter turnout at 78.13%

EC seeks report after locals allege that central forces opened fire in Deganga constituency of South 24 Parganas district

As per Turnout app, voter turnout is at 69.4% at 3:36 PM

Even as voting was underway in the fifth phase of the West Bengal elections, TMC MP Kakoli ghosh Dastidar had a heated argument with a jawan at a polling station in Barsat on Saturday. The TMC MP's high-handedness was caught on camera threatening the security personnel, warning him that this (the polling booth) was not Sitalkuchi and that it was 'her area'.

50.25% voter turnout has been recorded so far until 1:20 pm as per ECI approximations in the 5th phase of West Bengal Assembly elections. 

After the BJP met the Election Commission (EC) over the 'Sitalkuchi tape' featuring CM Mamata Banerjee, the ruling TMC will now visit the EC at 2.30 pm on Saturday to submit a memorandum onwho was taping CM's phone, MP Derek O Brien informed. A delegation comprising of Yashwant Sinha, Derek O'Brien and Purnendu Basu will visit EC. 

36.48% voter turnout has been recorded so far until 1:05 pm as per ECI approximations in the 5th phase of West Bengal Assembly elections. 

36.02% voter turnout has been recorded so far until 11:50 am as per ECI approximations in the 5th phase of West Bengal Assembly elections. 

31.04% voter turnout has been recorded so far until 11:20 am as per ECI approximations in the 5th phase of West Bengal Assembly elections. 

16.27% voter turnout has been recorded so far until 10:55 am as per ECI approximations in the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections.

even as voting was underway in the fifth phase of the West berngal Asembly elections, clashes erupted between TMC and BJP workers in the Bidhan Nagar constituency.

5.34% voter turnout has been recorded so far until 9:15 am as per EC approximations in the fifth phase of the West Bengal Aasembly elections.  

As voting ins underway in the fifth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP will meet the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday morning over the 'Sitalkuch tape'. Earlier on Friday, BJP I-T chief Amit Malviya shared an alleged audio clip between Mamata Banerjee and TMC's Sitalkuchi candidate Partho Pratim Roy in which the Trinamool chief is heard instructing Roy to preserve the bodies of the victims to 'parade them the next day'. She is also heard allegedly telling Roy to file a 'strong FIR' with the help of a lawyer, after the election is over. Vowing that she will get the commanding officer, SP of Sitalkuchi arrested for the firing, Banerjee is heard telling Roy to ensure continuation of voting in the area.

After BJP released an audio recording of an alleged conversation between Mamata Banerjee and TMC's Sitalkuchi candidate Partho Pratim Roy, Trinamool on Friday, accused BJP of spying on its member via phone tapping. Addressing a press conference, TMC MP Derek O'Brien said that BJP leaders who do not understand Bengali and playing a conversation between Mamata and her party member without understanding it.  He questioned as to why central forces fired five bullets in self-defence at a polling station amid voting in phase-4 Bengal elections.

Even as voting was undderway in the fifth phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal, a BJP polling agent was allegedly threatened by TMC workers in North 24 Parganas district on Saturday. In a video of the incident, the TMC worker is seen grabbing the shirt of the BJP polling agent, asking him where he was going and demanding to know why he 'took money' from the state government during Cyclone Amphan. 

"I appeal to all the voters of the fifth phase of Bengal to vote in maximum number. Your one vote will play an important role in restoring the rights of poor and farmers in the state, employment to youth and pride of Bengal", Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, EC issued new rules amid the massive spread of COVID-19 across India, curtailing campaigning to 7 PM. No campaigning is allowed between 7 PM and 10 AM and silence period has been extended from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three phases. EC has stated that any violation of COVID guidelines will be sternly dealt with criminal action. It has also tasked organisers of public meetings, rallies to provide masks and sanitisers to every person attending these meetings at their own cost. It has also told star campaigners to demonstrate by their personal example to wear mask, use sanitisers & maintain social distance & put in place such crowd control measures. Inspite of TMC's demand, EC has denied clubbing of remaining election phases in one go.

BJP sources said the party has been taking adequate measures to ensure that social distancing is maintained and people attending them wear masks. The sources said that chairs for the rallies' participants have been placed at adequate distance in every block of the two venues so that social distancing is followed. It will be ensured that everyone entering the rally venues wears a mask, they said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address two poll rallies in West Bengal on Saturday.

On the other hand, TMC MP Derek O'Brien alleged that the new rules were tailored to suit BJP leaders travelling to and from Delhi. Claiming that these leaders will fly to Kolkata, hold meetings and then leave, O'Brien added that such a deed will expose people to COVID-19. Mamata Banerjee has accused Modi-Shah of 'spreading COVID-19 in Bengal', while holding massive rallies herself.

1. Dum Dum: Bratya Basu (TMC) vs Palash Das [CPI(M)] vs Bimal Shankar Nanda (BJP)

Actor, director and playwright Bratya Basu is seeking re-election from this seat which falls under the Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency. At present, he holds the portfolios of Science and Technology and Biotechnology in the West Bengal Cabinet. He beat Palash Das of the CPI(M) in 2016 garnering 81,579 votes. While CPI(M) has re-nominated Palash Das, BJP has given the ticket to Bimal Shankar Nanda. 

2. Kamarhati: Madan Mitra (TMC) vs Anindya Banerjee (BJP)

Falling under the Dum Dum Lok Sabha segment, Kamarhati is a part of the North 24 Parganas district. The result in this constituency assumes great significance as TMC heavyweight Madan Mitra is contesting from here. The former Sports and Transport Minister spent over 21 months in prison over his alleged involvement in the Saradha scam case. While he lost this seat to Manash Mukherjee of CPI(M) in the previous election by a narrow margin of 4198 votes, the Mamata Banerjee-led party has reposed faith in him. BJP's Anindya Banerjee and CPI(M)'s Sayandeep Mitra are the other main contenders. 

3. Baranagar: Tapas Roy (TMC) vs Parno Mitra (BJP)

Tapas Roy, Minister of State of Planning and Statistics, is looking forward to continuing his winning streak here which started in 2011. In the previous election, he trounced his nearest rival Sukumar Ghosh of RSP by 16,100 votes. However, his road to re-election has hit a hurdle in the form of Parno Mitra. The actor-turned-politician will make her political debut in Baranagar on a BJP ticket. She played a key role in the 2011 National Award-winning Bengali film Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona.

4. Rajarhat Gopalpur: Aditi Munsi (TMC) vs Samik Bhattacharya (BJP)

West Bengal BJP chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya, who has served as the Basirhat Dakshin MLA in the past is vying for election from Rajarhat Gopalpur this time. He is pitted against popular singer Aditi Munsi who is contesting on a TMC ticket. Incumbent TMC MLA Purnendo Bose won this seat by a margin of 6,874 votes in the last Assembly polls. In the 2011 election, he had trounced the sitting CPI(M) legislator Rabindranath Mondal by 35,725 votes.
 

Over one crore voters in West Bengal will decide the political fate of 342 candidates on Saturday, when 45 assembly constituencies go to polls in the fifth phase, amid a raging second wave of COVID-19. Security measures have been heightened for phase five in view of the violence in the previous phase, which witnessed the death of five people in Cooch Behar, including four in CISF firing.

The Election Commission has decided to deploy at least 853 companies of central forces to ensure free and fair voting, an official of the poll panel said. It will also put in place measures to ensure strict adherence of COVID-19 protocols during the voting process, he said.

Voting will be held at 15,789 polling stations in the 45 constituencies 16 seats in North 24 Parganas, eight each in Purba Bardhaman and Nadia, seven in Jalpaiguri, five in Darjeeling and one in Kalimpong district. The phase is crucial for the ruling Trinamool Congress, which is hoping to better its 2016 tally of 32 seats, even as a resurgent BJP looks to make inroads. The Left-Congress alliance had bagged 10 seats in the assembly elections five years ago.

Seats up for grabs are Dhupguri, Maynaguri, Jalpaiguri, Rajganj, Dabgram-Fulbari, Mal, Nagrakata, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Matigara-Naxalbari, Siliguri, Phansidewa, Santipur, Ranaghat Uttar Purba, Ranaghat Uttar Paschim, Ranaghat Dakshin, Santipur, Krishnaganj, Chakdaha, Kalyani, Haringhata, Panihati, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Dum Dum, Rajarhat New Town, Bidhannagar, Rajarhat Gopalpur, Madhyamgram, Barasat, Deganga, Haroa, Minakhan, Sandeshkhali, Basirhat Dakshin, Basirhat Uttar, Hingalghat, Khandaghosh, Bardhaman Dakshin, Raina, Jamalpur, Monteswar. Kalna, Memari, Bardhaman Uttar.