KOLKATA: People came out amid adversities Covid and heat wave in the penultimate phase of Bengal polls on Monday covering 34 assembly seats spread over Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Paschim Burdwan and Kolkata.
The seventh phase recorded an average 75% turnout till 5.30 pm. Polling percentages in the four south Kolkata assembly segments of Bhowanipore, Rashbehari, Ballygunge and Kolkata Port fell substantially over previous years as fear and anxiety kept several residents, particularly the elderly, away from booths for the first time in their lives. Till 5pm on Monday, the four seats had notched up a turnout of 59.9%, lower that the 65.3% recorded from here in the 2016 assembly polls and 66% in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Muslim voters are set to be a key factor as incumbent government of Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lock horns in the seventh phase of West Bengal assembly polls today.
All eyes will also be on some high-profile constituencies in Kolkata, where some key ministers of TMC are contesting.
Voting will be held in 34 out of 36 constituencies as polling for two assembly seats in Samserganj and Jangipur in Murshidabad district was cancelled following the death of two candidates with Covid-19.
Murshidabad and Malda districts are considered pockets of Muslim majority voters , where TMC will look to continue its dominance, said election experts.
Updated:
April 26, 2021 00:55 IST
Even at the height of the Left front’s reign over West Bengal, Mamata could count on winning its capital
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Polling officials on the eve of seventh phase of the West Bengal Assembly poll in Kolkata on Sunday. | Photo Credit:
PTI
Even at the height of the Left front’s reign over West Bengal, Mamata could count on winning its capital
Eleven seats in Kolkata go to vote in the last two phases of polling in the West Bengal Assembly elections, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has fielded political heavyweights to defend it. They include five senior Ministers in the West Bengal government, well-known sitting MLAs, and key faces of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Bengal elections: Campaigning ends for seventh phase of polling
Bengal elections: Campaigning ends for seventh phase of polling
Campaigning for the seventh phase of polling in West Bengal assembly election ended on Friday.
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UPDATED: April 24, 2021 05:16 IST
The campaigning for the seventh phase ended 72 hours before the polling on April 26. (PTI)
Curtains came down on Friday over the campaigning for 34 assembly seats in West Bengal which are scheduled to go to the poll on April 26 in the seventh phase of election being held amidst the surge in coronavirus cases across the country.
The campaigning for the seventh phase ended 72 hours before the polling on April 26.