West Bengal Election 2021 Live Updates: TMC, BJP Complain to EC Alleging Attacks in Nandigram

“They (BJP) may create snag in the EVM machine. I would like to request my voters not to leave the place. Wait at the polling booth and when the new machine will come ask the officials to switch on and off the EVM twice,” said Banerjee while addressing a public meeting at Kharagpur.

With West Bengal assembly elections 2021 around the corner, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked party youth workers to remain alert at polling booths on voting days, claiming the BJP is likely to rig the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to manipulate votes.

BJP's candidate list for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, 2021. (8/8)

BJP's candidate list for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, 2021. (7/8)

BJP's candidate list for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, 2021. (6/8)

BJP's candidate list for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, 2021. (5/8)

BJP's candidate list for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, 2021. (4/8)

BJP's candidate list for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, 2021. (3/8)

BJP's list of candidates for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, 2021. (2/8)

BJP Releases List of Candidates | BJP releases list of candidates for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth phases of West Bengal Assembly elections, 2021. (1/8)

Mamata's Allergy to 'Jai Shri Ram' Triggered Me to Join BJP | "Definition of politics before BJP came to power was different. Now it is different and good. I have given my contribution in the Ramayan, now it is time for this contribution. Mamata Banerjee's allergy to 'Jai Shre Ram' was the triggering point for me to take on this role. I am ready to play whatever role the party gives me," says Govil.

PM Modi who addressed an election rally in Assam’s Karimganj hit out at the Congress saying it was responsible for damaging Assam socially, culturally, geographically and politically. He said the Congress has become so weak at present that it can go to any extent and join hands with anyone, hinting at the party’s alliances in poll-bound states of Assam, West Bengal and Kerala.

Meanwhile, Ramayan fame actor Arun Govil joins BJP today.

Actor Arun Govil joins BJP at party headquarters in New Delhi. #JoinBJP pic.twitter.com/eiI1aCdRRt

— BJP (@BJP4India) March 18, 2021

Announcing BJP's candidate list for West Bengal Assembly polls, party general secretary Arun Singh says, "148 candidates will be declared by BJP." Among the names are those of party vice-president Mukul Roy, Rahul Sinha and Asim Sarkar.

BJP national general secretary Arun Singh addresses a press conference in Delhi.

Shri @ArunSinghbjp is addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. https://t.co/Ioj0xHLX01

— BJP (@BJP4India) March 18, 2021

Home minister Amit Shah, in an interview with Network18 in October 2020, had said that there are “bomb-making factories in every district in Bengal”. The statement had sparked much debate and furore. The Trinamool Congress had criticised the remark with its leader Abhishek Banerjee terming it “disgusting poll propaganda” and an attempt to “disturb the social harmony in the state”.

Bengal Has a Bomb Culture: CRPF Chief Kuldiep Singh | A day after bombs were hurled near BJP MP Arjun Singh’s house in North 24 Parganas, director general of CRPF Kuldiep Singh told News18 on Thursday that the "bomb culture" in Bengal is a reality and that forces have been deployed just to ensure such incidents do not happen. Singh said, "It is not an accusation (that the state has a bomb culture)…These kinds of bombs—petrol, sutli, etc— are manufactured in Bengal during the time of elections for terrorising the public and other things." Read More

Declaring that the countdown for the defeat of the Trinamool Congress in Bengal had begun, the prime minister said in Bengali: “Atyachar onek korechho Didi. Ebar Ma Durgar ashirbadey korbay tomaye oporosto (You have oppressed people for long. Now with blessings of Ma Durga, you will be defeated).”

BJP May Field Heavyweights in Last 4 Phases of Polls | BJP may field some heavyweights, including party office-bearers and MPs from the state, in the last four phases of the West Bengal Assembly Elections. The issue came up in a meeting held yesterday at party's national president J P Nadda's New Delhi home, the Times of India reported. Among the names floated were those of Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh and party's national vice-president Mukul Roy. 

'BJP Copying Mamata's Poribortan Slogan' | Poribortan (change) is Mamata Banerjee's slogan. Why are you copying Mamata Banerjee? After winning Bengal, we will jump to Delhi and shake BJP up, says the TMC chief.

Mamata Banerjee Addresses People in Kharagpur | I have a request, during election if BJP distributes money don't bow your head in front of that money. Remember, this is public's money: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kharagpur

If any Maoist, Leftist or Congress' friend is here, I'll tell them don't vote for CPIM, they're BJP's Gadai. Don't vote for Congress, they're BJP's Jagai and BJP is riotist Madhai. They (BJP) know Mamata Banerjee means people's energy and she'll fight along with people, not flee: WB CM

I'm like a tiger and I won't bow my head. I only bow my head before the public. But a party like BJP tortures women, Dalits, I don't support them: Banerjee

I'm like a tiger and I won't bow my head. I only bow my head before the public. But a party like BJP tortures women, Dalits - I don't support them: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, in Amlasuli#WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/tVeQ6XX69e

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021

When these looters come just chase them away. Tell them "we don't want riots", Banerjee hits out at BJP.

When you cook you use utensils and when these looters come, just chase them with those. Tell them "we don't want riots": West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, in Amlasuli #WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/zdVkUWaoYW

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021

Mamata Holds Rally in Amlasuli | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee holds a rally in Amlasuli. "We gave thousands of crores after cyclone Amphan. BJP, where were you at that time? They only distribute money for horsetrading." 

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is in Nandigram, says, "Mamata Didi should fight elections in a democratic way. After Suvendu Adhikari's 'padayatra' started today, our Yuva Morcha leader was attacked here, in front of me. We appeal to the Election Commission to deploy paramilitary force here."

Mamata Didi should fight elections in a democratic way. After Suvendu Adhikari's 'padayatra' started today, our Yuva Morcha leader was attacked here, in front of me. Appeal to the Election Commission to deploy paramilitary force here: Union Min Dharmendra Pradhan in Nandigram, WB pic.twitter.com/wtqjaXuJYY

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021

In Purulia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the families and relatives of BJP workers who were killed.

West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Purulia, the families and relatives of BJP workers who were killed. pic.twitter.com/j4dukeSRzi

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021

PM Modi also accused Banerjee of encouraging Maoists and dubbed the TMC 'Transfer My Commission' Party. "In Bengal, the Centre was doing DBT or Direct Benefit Transfer," he said, "but in Bengal, it is TMC – Transfer My Commission."

Vikas Hobe, Says PM Modi | “Didi says khela hobe, BJP says jobs; Didi says khela hobe, BJP says education; Didi says khela hobe, BJP says development; Didi says khela hobe, BJP says the rise of women; Didi says khela hobe, BJP says jobs; Didi says khela hobe, BJP says you will get a pucca house, clean water and taps in every home,” said the PM.

PM Modi Holds Rally in Purulia | Ahead of the eight-phase Bengal election starting March 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party TMC over “corruption and lack of development” at a rally in Purulia today. "Didi, O Didi – you played for 10 years. Now the game will end and development will begin”.