Team News Riveting
Kolkata, April 29
Amid surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, voting for the eighth and last phase of the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal ended on Thursday.
As many as 283 candidates, including 35 women were in the fray in the last phase of the assembly elections where polling was held for the 35 constituencies in four districts that Malda, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Kolkata.
Over 84.77 lakh electorates, including 41.21 lakh women and 158 third gender persons, would be casting their votes at as many as 11,860 polling stations in phase VIII.
Polling concluded peacefully today across 11,860 Polling Stations spread over 35 Assembly Constituencies, in the last phase of elections in the State of West Bengal. Voters enthusiastically participated, following Covid appropriate behaviour as per laid down protocols of sanitization and social distancing. Voter Turnout of 76.07 per cent was reported by 5 PM for the last Phase of elections today.
The Commission laid out elaborate security plans to ensure violence free and safe conduct of elections. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) along with the local police force were deployed to ensure peaceful, intimidation free and conducive atmosphere for the smooth conduct of elections in a free, fair, inclusive and accessible manner.
The Commission has also been laying specific emphasis on inducement free elections and curbing the malaise of undue money power, liquor, freebies. During the ongoing elections till this phase in West Bengal, a record seizure of Rs. 339.45 crore has been reported till date.
In the Phase VIII of West Bengal Assembly Elections, the total number of PwD electors and 80+ electors are 72,094 and 1,12,440 respectively. A total of 11,860 Ballot Units (BUs), 11,860 Control Units (CUs) and 11,860 VVPATs were used in West Bengal during this phase. 6,074 (51.21 per cent) out of 11,860 polling stations were monitored live through webcasting.
