Third phase of voting begins in West Bengal – 2024-05-08 16:43:19

Voting for the third phase of India’s 18th Lok Sabha elections has begun. Voting began on Tuesday (May 7) in four Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal – Maldah North, Maldah South, Jangipur and Murshidabad. The total number of voters in these four constituencies is 73 lakh 37 thousand 651 people. A total of 7,460 polling stations have been opened.

A total of 10,000 state police will be deployed from 334 companies of Central Security Forces and West Bengal from different states of the country to conduct free and peaceful voting in these four centres.

In the third phase of the election, the Murshidabad seat will be contested between Trinamool candidate Abu Taher Khan, BJP candidate Gauri Shankar Ghosh and CPM candidate Md Salim. Trinamool candidate former IPS officer Prasoon Banerjee, BJP candidate Khagen Murmu and Congress candidate Mostak Alam will contest from Malda North seat. On the other hand, Malda South Center will be contested between Shahnaz Ali Raihan of Trinamool, BJP candidate Srirupa Mitra Chowdhury and Isa Khan Chowdhury of National Congress.

Apart from this, today Jangipur Central Trinamool candidate Khalilur Rahman, BJP’s Dhananjay Ghosh, National Congress candidate Mortaza Hossain will fight for votes.

Voting started from 7 am local time. Voting will end at 6 pm. Long queues have been seen at polling stations since Tuesday morning for the democracy festival in the country’s largest democracy.

The first two rounds of voting took place in fairly peaceful conditions. The National Election Commission wants to maintain that rhythm in the third phase as well. Therefore security has been strengthened by deploying central security forces at each booth. Besides, the National Commission is monitoring the voting process through Quick Response Team (QRT), Heavy Radio Flying Squad, Webcam, Drone.

With the 18th Lok Sabha elections of India, by-elections are being held in 27 constituencies of the country. These 27 centers include two centers in West Bengal, Barahnagar and Bhagbangola. By-elections are being held in Bhagbangola constituency following the death of Trinamool Congress MLA Idris Ali. Voting has started in Bhagbangola Assembly of Murshidabad Lok Sabha Constituency since this morning. Trinamool Congress candidate Reyat Hussain Sarkar, Congress Anju Begum and BJP candidate Bhaskar Sarkar in this by-election.

Mock poll has started in the morning. Booth No. 198 at Barlow Girls High School in English Bazar, Malda is decorated with Malda mangoes. Meanwhile, there has been a complaint of allowing BJP’s candidate agent to sit in Raghunathganj of Jangipur. It was reported that this incident took place in booth number 596061 of Secandra High School. Apart from this, there have been allegations of arresting BJP agents near Jangipur Tatipara.

Elections will be held in seven phases in total 42 constituencies in West Bengal. There are 4 more rounds of voting left. The fourth phase will be held on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 26 and the seventh and final phase on June 1. Counting of votes will be on June 4.

DD/TTN