The first of the five-phased panchayat elections in West Bengal registered a total of 60 percent polling today.
The polls are being held after the Supreme Court refused to reschedule the poll dates which the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government said, 'were clashing with the month of Ramzan'.
The districts that witnessed polling today included West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.
Security was tightened across the three districts with over 48,000 central and state forces being deployed to ensure smooth voting.
Sporadic violence was reported in the first phase of panchayat elections in West Bengal covering three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
