West Bengal Election 2021 Voting Live Updates: As many as 373 candidates are in fray from 44 constituencies.West Bengal Election Phase 4 Polling Highlights: West Bengal on Saturday recorded a voter turnout of around 76.16 per cent by 5 pm as the poll-bound constituencies was marred by violence. Five people were killed, including four in the firing by CISF personnel, during the fourth phase of polling on Saturday for 44 assembly seats of West Bengal, triggering a political firestorm. Four people were killed as central forces opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who “attempted to snatch their rifles”, in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district, police said. The Election Commission ordered stopping the voting exercise at polling station number 126 in Sitalkuchi where the incident happened when polling was underway. “A scuffle took place, and locals gheraoed them and attempted to snatch their rifles, following which the central forces opened fire. Further details are awaited,” a police official said. The EC has sought a detailed report on the incident. According to official sources, the preliminary report submitted by EC’s special police observer Vivek Dubey said a huge mob of around 350-400 people had gheraoed the central forces, following which they fired in “self-defence”. The incident led to violence in the area where bombs were hurled, prompting central forces to baton-charge to bring the situation under control. In another incident, an 18-year-old voter, Ananda Barman, was gunned down outside booth number 85 in Pathantuli, also in Sitalkuchi, after clashes broke out between activists of the ruling TMC and the BJP. Condoling the deaths in Cooch Behar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday requested the Election Commission to take stern action against those responsible for the incident and blamed the ruling TMC for perpetrating violence during the polls. He also accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of instigating people against the central forces.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and a reply from him on firing by the central forces which led to the death of people “standing in the queue to vote”. Asserting that she had apprehended such an incident all along, Banerjee said, “After killing so many people, they (Election Commission) are saying the firing was in self-defence. They should feel ashamed.” “This is a lie….the central forces opened fire on people standing in the line for voting, killing 4 in Sitalkuchi. I had been apprehending the forces would act in such a manner for long. As the BJP knows it has lost the people’s mandate, they are conspiring to kill people,” she said at a rally in North 24 Parganas. The chief minister said she will visit the scene of the incident. In the Ganguly Bagan area in Jadavpur constituency, the booth agent of CPI(M) candidate Sujan Chakraborty was reportedly attacked by a “fake voter”, who threw chilli powder at her, the officials said. A central police contingent was rushed to the spot following the incident. In Bangor in South 24 Parganas, clashes were reported between ISF and TMC workers after the former alleged the ruling party was not allowing their polling agents to enter the booth. In Chanditala in Hooghly, CPI(M) activists scuffled with TMC supporters outside a booth.
Highlights
In Cooch Behar district where voting shall be over by today, no political leader from any national, state, or other party should be allowed to enter the geographical boundaries of the district for the next 72 hours with immediate effect. Recourse to open fire by bCISF personnel became absolutely necessary in order to save lives of voters lined up at the polling booth, those of other polling personnel & their own lives as mob had attempted snatching their weapons: Election Commission - ANI
What happened in Cooch Behar today is unfortunate. Mamta Banerjee is responsible for that. Just two days ago, Mamta Banerjee said in Cooch Behar that her supporters should surround the Central Para Military Forces and then try to get votes cast. We saw its result today when the Central Para Military Forces were attacked by Mamta Banerjee's workers, whose number is being estimated between 300-500: Amit Malviya.
TMC did the politics of appeasement and the party is bearing its consequences: Amit Malviya
Even Mamta Banerjee's strategist recognized that the BJP's organization is strong, spread to the booth levels and the BJP's style of contesting election is unique in itself: Amit Malviya
West Bengal Election Live: A BJP delegation met EC over the death of 5 people in 2 separate incidents in Sitalkuchi. "In my opinion, these incidents happened because of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's old statement calling for gherao of Central forces," says BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato
I will be going to Mathabhanga hospital tomorrow at 10 am and from there I will go to Alipurduar. I couldn't go to Cooch Behar today due to Model Code of Conduct as polling is going on there, said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
Home Minister Amit Shah is completely responsible for today's incident and he himself is the conspirator. I don't blame central forces because they work under Home Minister's order. I believe, this incident (firing incident in Cooch Behar) is pre-planned. I will order an investigation into the matter: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri
West Bengal Elections 2021 Live: Handicraft, business, marketing, investment aren't among TMC's priorities. Didi's TMC is an expert in 'tolabaazi'. Didi's TMC is an expert in cut-money. Didi's TMC is an expert in killing BJP workers. Didi's TMC is an expert in rigging: PM Narendra Modi
The reason behind Didi's anger is not only BJP and Modi but the people whose trust Didi has broken... The minority community that Didi persuaded are at distress so she needs to appeal to them continuously, says PM Modi in Krishnanagar
West Bengal Elections 2021 Phase 4 Voting Live: 66.76 per cent voter turnout recorded till 4pm
Didi you promised to make this entire area a medical hub. Though the medical hub was not built, but I have been told that the there was a large TB hospital here and TMC's tolabaz sold its each and every brick: PM Modi
With defeat staring Didi in face, she is inciting violence in Bengal elections: PM Modi tells poll rally in Nadia
West Bengal Election Live: This election of Bengal is not only being fought by BJP, people of Bengal are also fighting this election, said PM Narendra Modi in Krishnanagar.
After a wait for decades, the 'mahayagya' of 'ashol poribortan' has started in Bengal. This 'mahayagya' will teach a lesson to appeasers: PM Narendra Modi in Krishnanagar.
Truth is TMC & Left's most loyal voters have got nothing but humiliation for decades. In return for their loyalty @MamataOfficial has likened Muslims to cows to be milked. Now she has to beg Muslims to not divide their votes. If there's appeasement then why this begging?: Asaduddin Owaisi
West Bengal Election Live: 58.87 per cent voting recorded till 2 pm
West Bengal Election Live: Brazen attempt by TMC to disrupt free and fair polls in WB. Recent incidences of violence a result of provocative speeches by Mamata Banerjee. They also had to divert attention from the news of their strategist conceding defeat last night and hence the planned attack on forces, says Amit Malviya
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West Bengal Election Live: Derek O'Brien terms Amit Shah, Narendra Modi killers
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West Bengal Elections 2021 Live: The firing took place because common people were resisting the effort by BJP hooligans to disrupt the voting. They are being encouraged by Central Armed Police Force & we feel this is a conspiracy headed by Home Minister, we are demanding his resignation: Saugata Roy, TMC MP
West Bengal Elections 2021 Phase 4 Voting Live: Why did the Central Armed Police Forces fire? Where do they get this audacity of firing on common voters? That is the main question. This is a part of a conspiracy and we do not think that the PM is out of this conspiracy. This is an effort to intimidate voters, said Saugata Roy, TMC MP
West Bengal Election Live: CM Mamata Banerjee to hold a protest rally in Cooch Behar tomorrow against today's firing incident in which four people died.
West Bengal Election Phase-4 Live: 52.89 per cent voting recorded till 1 pm
CRPF has shot dead 4 people in Sitalkuchi (Cooch Behar) today. There was another death in the morning. CRPF is not my enemy but there's a conspiracy going around under the instruction of Home Minister & today's incident is a proof: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
Commission orders adjourning the poll in Polling Station 125 of Sitalkuchi Assembly Constituency, Cooch Behar based on an interim report from Special Observers. Detailed reports sought from them and Chief Electoral Officer by 5 pm today: EC
West Bengal Election Live: Siliguri's black tea the toy train are world heritage. I have had a childhood relationship with these both. The toy train here is known for double enjoyment with a double engine. BJP's double engine government is also known for providing double growth with double speed, says PM Modi.
West Bengal Election Live: Didi did not provide tap water, did not provide irrigation water. She handed over the rivers to the mafia. Extortion in every scheme, cut-money in every schme. It is here in Siliguri a few days ago, Didi said that her tolabaz only take 100-500 rupees, what is the big deal in this, says PM Modi
West Bengal Election Live: Seeing her defeat, Didi's anger against me keeps growing. Seeing the affection of the people of Bengal for me, Didi is also angry with the people of Bengal, says PM Modi
West Bengal Election Live: "The people of Bengal are not your property, Didi. That's why the people of Bengal have decided that you must go. The people of Bengal will relax only after throwing you out. You will not go alone. Your entire gang will be removed by the public," said PM Narendra Modi
I saw a video in which Didi's close aide, tourism minister from Bengal and a nearby MLA were threatening people. He said - if people voted for BJP, people will be picked up and thrown out. Everything is captured in the camera, this hooliganism is being done openly. This is the truth of Didi's 10-year rule: PM Modi
West Bengal Election Live: The time has come to change the kind of political environment that has been created in Bengal for decades. Now Bengal will become tolabaz (extortionists) free, Syndicate free, cut-money-free, says PM Modi
West Bengal Elections 2021 Live: PM Narendra Modi expresses grief over Cooch Behar incident
West Bengal Elections 2021 Live: New Year is about to begin in Bengal. In the new year, good is going to win over evil, BJP is going to win: PM Narendra Modi
West Bengal Elections 2021 Live: PM Narendra Modi addresses rally in Siliguri
"A scuffle took place and locals gheraoed them and attempted to snatch their rifles, following which the central forces opened fire. Further details are awaited," police said. Election officials said a report on the incident has been sought from the district officials.
Central Forces opened fire twice. In Block 1 of Mathabhanga (Cooch Behar) 1 was killed and 3 injured, in Sitalkuchi block, 3 were killed and one injured. Central Forces are doing injustice to people and they've crossed limits. When CM called them out, EC issued her notices: Dola Sen, TMC
Indian Secular Front chairman and candidate from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, Naushad Siddiqui and BJP candidate from the constituency, Soumi Hati greet each other. Visuals from near Hatisala Sarojini High Madrasah (H.S.) in the area.
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West Bengal Elections 2021 Phase 4 Voting Live: 4 dead as CISF allegedly opens fire after coming under attack in Sitalkuchi in Bengal's Cooch Behar district, says Police
West Bengal Elections 2021 Phase 4 Voting Live: 32.13 per cent voter turnout till 10.30 am
West Bengal Election Live: ITBP personnel, deployed on election duty, at polling booths in Rishra of Hooghly district help an elderly woman as she arrives to cast her vote for the fourth phase of West Bengal
West Bengal Election Live: Media vehicles covering West Bengal Assembly elections attacked in Hooghly