West Bengal records 91.58% turnout in phase 1 amid sporadic violence

Voter turnout reached 91.58% in the first phase of West Bengal's assembly elections today (23 April), marking one of the highest polling percentages in the state, according to the Election Commission of India.

Polling was held across 152 of the state's 294 constituencies from 7am to 6pm.

The poll battle in West Bengal continued to be charged as PM Modi took potshots at TMC while speaking at a rally in Nadia. He said that this time, people of Bengal are angry with TMC and that Mamata Banerjee-led party may not be able to open their accounts in many cities.

Reports of clashes and violence also emerged from some pockets as the TMC and AUJP workers reportdly engaged in an altercation after a blast injured several people in Nowda of Murshidabad district earlier on Thursday morning. In a video, AUJP chief Humayun Kabir was also seen fighting with the workers from TMC.

A bomb blast incident was reported in Bengal's Murshidabad district, following which, AUJP's Humayun Kabir visited the site. However, his visit led to a clash between TMC workers and the police. Security personnel were deployed to control the situation as tensions escalated between party workers and police during the polling process. The police were forced to use mild lathicharge to dispel some of the crowd, but denied that the situation was out of hand.

EVM glitches also disrupted voting at a few places in West Bengal on Thursday, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.

The first act of violence was reported in West Bengal as the first phase of voting was underway in the state. Several people were injured as unidentified people hurled crude bomb in Nowda, Murshidabad district, news agency PTI reported, adding that more details are awaited related to the incident.

Earlier, Suvendu Adhikari, BJP's candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, cast his vote in Nandigram and said that there is no chance of Mamata Banerjee winning the elections if dead and fake voter have been eliminated from the rolls. He also hoped for peaceful elections in the state. "….We are Hindus, we are Sanatanis. I offered prayers, offered a 'naman'.... I spoke to polling agents of my constituency...Polling should be held peacefully," Adhikari told reporters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged large turnout for women and youth as voting underway in West Bengal today in 152 of its constituencies across 16 districts of the state in the first phase. The polling time for the first phase of Bengal polls is from 7 am today till 6 pm.

As chief minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is seeking reelection, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to unseat its rival from power.

The political temperature in Bengal simmered up during the last 48 hours of campaigning as both the Trinamool and the BJP took out rallies and launched attacks at each other. At an election rally at Dum Dum in the eastern fringes of Kolkata, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on Mamata Banerjee, accusing her party of using "infiltrators as a vote bank". Meanwhile, senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee accused Shah of disrespecting women when addressed Mamata Banerjee as 'Ae didi'.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has been in focus all throughout the campaigning in West Bengal. The process reportedly led to the deletion of over 60 lakh to 90 lakh names, reducing the voter base from around 7.66 crore to 7.04 crore.