West Bengal Polls LIVE: Staring at defeat, Mamata abusing me, says Modi

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE updates: Phase 3 voting today. The Election Commission has imposed Section 144 in all the 31 West Bengal assembly constituencies

9:36 PM

Violence, attack on candidates attacked in the third phase of Bengal polls

Five candidates, including two women, were assaulted, while clashes between rival political groups erupted during the third phase of polling in West Bengal on Tuesday.
 

However, despite the violence, voter enthusiasm was high with 77.68 per cent of voters casting their ballots till 5 pm, two hours before polling ended.

Polls were conducted with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols, officials said.
 

Voting in 16 seats in South 24 Parganas district (part II), saw 76.68 per cent votes being cast by 5 pm. While 77.93 per cent votes were cast in seven seats in Howrah (part I) and 79.36 per cent in eight in Hooghly (part I), they added.
 

"Voter turnout of 77.68 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in 31 seats," an EC official said.
 

Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, however, alleged "blatant misuse" of central forces to "influence voters".
 

"The blatant misuse of Central forces continues unabated. Despite us repeatedly raising this issue, @ECISVEEP continues to be a mute spectator, while men in uniform are being misused at several places to openly intimidate TMC voters and influence many to vote in favour of one party," she tweeted.
 

Police arrested five persons -- three members of the TMC and two of the BJP -- for their alleged involvement in assaulting TMC candidate Sujata Mondal in Arambagh earlier on Tuesday, an officer said.
 

Television grabs showed the TMC leader being chased in an open field by people wielding sticks and iron rods and then hitting on the head with sticks. Her security officer was also injured.
 

The TMC claimed that BJP "goons" didn't allow the party's agents inside the polling stations.
 

8:47 PM

Glimpse of Enthusiastic Voters at the Polling queue of Howrah District

7:34 PM

BJP demands independent inquiry from EC after EVMs found in TMC candidate's house

The BJP on Tuesday demanded an independent inquiry from the Election Commission after electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPAT machines were found in a TMC leader's house in a constituency in West Bengal's Howrah district.

 

Four EVMs and a similar number of VVPAT machines were found at the house of the Trinamool Congress leader in Uluberia constituency following which an election official was suspended by the poll body.

 

Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said it is a serious matter that a day before the polling EVMs and VVPAT machines were found in the TMC leader's house and were confiscated.

7:16 PM

Attacks on TMC and BJP candidates, 5 arrested

Police arrested five persons -- three members of the TMC and two of the BJP -- for their alleged involvement in assaulting TMC's Sujata Mondal, candidate from Arasmbagh, earlier on Tuesday, a police officer said.

 

Police also said they had launched a search for those who assaulted Papiya Adhikary, BJP candidate from Uluberia (Dakshin) assembly seat, when she visited Uluberia hospital to call on an injured party candidate.

 

The attacks were part of a series of clashes which were reported from several parts of Bengal, where polling is underway in the third phase of assembly elections.

6:44 PM

First-time voters showcasing their inked-finger after casting their votes

4:58 PM

Voters in queue to cast their vote in South 24 Parganas District

4:53 PM

PM Modi accuses TMC of 'Bhaipo service tax'

Tape revealing Trinamool's syndicate is discussed in the country. How a construction syndicate developed from New Town. The whole country listened to how 'Bhaipo service tax' made things miserable in many cities of West Bengal including Howrah: PM Modi in Howrah

4:18 PM

LIVE: BJP's Swapan Das Gupta alleges abuse by security forces in Bengal

There is an accusation that a senior police officer is cutting TMC voters here. They've hit many people and abused women with an idea to ensure that people must leave. I find it objectionable that there are West Bengal Police personnel without any name tags: Swapan Das Gupta, BJP

4:17 PM

Watch: PM Modi addresses public meeting at Howrah, West Bengal

3:49 PM

Volunteers allege security staff pushing them out from polling premises