There is an alliance between Congress and BJP in Kerala. It continues in this election as well: Kerala CM and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan
Assembly Elections 2021 Highlights: Polling is underway for 47 seats in Assam and 30 seats in West Bengal in the first phase of assembly elections today (March 27). Assam is voting in three phases and West Bengal in eight phases. The votes will be counted on May 2.
The Election Commission (EC) on February 26 announced the Legislative Assembly election schedule for four states-Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and a Union Territory - Puducherry.
West Bengal
In the first phase today, 30 assembly seats are going to polls in West Bengal. These seats come under Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Pachim Medinipur. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee's former aide and now BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, and his family, have considerable influence in Purba Medinipur. The family is also said to have some influence in adjoining districts of Pachim Medinipur, Jhargram and Bankura.
A total of 732 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed in the state for the first phase of elections in West Bengal.
The elections to 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29.
Also, read: West Bengal polls | Dates, battle lines, key players and issues — A guide to the high-stake contest
The first phase of polling will decide the electoral fate of 191 candidates including 21 women. Some prominent names in the first phase include Srikanto Mahato, Rajib Lochan Saren and Uttam Barik of TMC and Rabindranath Maity, Chandana Bauri and Rajib Kundu from BJP.
In Assam, the voters can exercise franchise in as many as 11,530 polling booths spread across the poll-bound seats. As many as 264 candidates including 23 women are in fray in the first phase in Assam. The ruling BJP is seeking a second term with the help of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) in the state. The Congress-led 'Mahajot' and United Regional Front (URF) led by Akhil Gogoi's Raijor Dal are also in the fray.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal government is seeking a re-election in the three phase polling. Sonowal, not the chief ministerial face this time, is contesting from his seat Majuli in the first phase. Among others, Assam assembly speaker Hitendra Goswami is contesting from Jorhat while ministers Ranjit Dutta from Behali, Naba Kumar Doley from Jonai and Sanjoy Jisham from Tinsukia are also in the fray in the first phase.
The BJP had scripted history in 2016 by ending 15-year-long Congress rule.
Voter turnout update
All you need to know - Assam Polls
Key players in Assam Assembly Elections 2021
Key players in West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021
All you need to know - West Bengal Polls
Key dates for Assam Assembly Elections
Key dates for West Bengal Assembly Elections
Voter turnout update
Polling Arrangements in West Bengal
Voter turnout update
PM Modi urges people to vote
Situation on ground in West Bengal
Assam Assembly Elections
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021
First phase of West Bengal & Assam Assembly Elections begins
There is an alliance between Congress and BJP in Kerala. It continues in this election as well: Kerala CM and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan
BJP never does politics by dividing society. Our politics is not based on caste, creed, and religion. We do politics of justice and humanity. On the contrary, LDF, UDF, TMC, and Congress have done the politics by dividing society: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
High voter turnout in the first phase of West Bengal elections makes it clear that BJP is going to achieve great success in each phase of polls. The trend shows that BJP will form the government with a clear majority: Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh
If Congress-AIUDF comes to power, its government will endanger Indians living in Assam and strengthen illegal immigrants: Assam CM and BJP leader Sarbananda Sonowal.
Chief Minister Palaniswami asserts that a container port will not come up in Kanyakumari; slams DMK, Congress for spreading “lies” that the project was in the works.
First phase of West Bengal and Assam polls witnesses 79.79 percent and 72.14 percent voter turnout, respectively: Election Commission of India
BJP and TMC workers gather outside Nirmal Hirday Ashram School polling booth in Medinipur Assembly constituency in Paschim Medinipur. “After voting and before sealing of EVMs, two BJP workers entered the booth, but central forces didn’t stop them,” a TMC worker says.
“The two BJP workers were removed from the booth when we protested and called media persons. Central forces are working in a biased manner,” the TMC worker added.
A BJP worker responded saying: “We are here to ensure that EVMs are protected.”
In DMK, D stands for dynasty, M for money & K for Katta Panchayat...They looted our democracy for money and family. Katta panchayat is the ‘mafia raj’ of DMK and Congress. Vote for your family and not for the DMK family: Union Minister Smriti Irani
Recently a DMK leader had the audacity to abuse the mother of a Chief Minister. Will such a political party give respect to average Tamilian women, is a question you need to ask yourself when you go to vote: Union Minister and BJP MP Smriti Irani said in Kottam, Tamil Nadu
Poll ends for the first phase of #WestBengalAssemblyElection2021; visuals from a polling booth in Purulia pic.twitter.com/w6Caj5QU3h
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2021
BJP national president JP Nadda holds a roadshow in Nemom, ahead of #KeralaAssemblyElection2021 pic.twitter.com/L2BQDyGquj
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2021
Poll ends for the first phase of #WestBengalAssemblyElection2021; visuals from a polling booth in Contai pic.twitter.com/H0g3B1Sesh
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2021
