October 19, 2026 04:40 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Tiger Shroff firing: Three accused arrested on train in Rajasthan, suspected Bishnoi gang link emerges | 'Internet access a fundamental right for children': SC rejects age-based 'blanket' ban | 'We will fight our own government': RG Kar victim's father threatens fresh protest after Sandip Ghosh gets bail | RG Kar shocker: Sandip Ghosh gets bail as only 7 of 147 witnesses examined, junior doctor blasts CBI | Trump waives Russia-related sanctions | 'How dare Elon Musk?' Owaisi defends Modi after billionaire's 'real boss' jibe at Ambani | 'B****y S***': IAS officer's abuse of female colleague during virtual J&K meeting sparks row | Aamir Khan’s nephew Imran Khan asked to leave India by Oct 28 after joining anti-CEC protest | ‘Their crime? Demanding justice’: Rahul Gandhi slams 4 AM detention of Ankita Bhandari’s parents | ‘Bangladesh showed us the way’: Neha Bora’s remarks spark BJP attack on Rahul Gandhi
Bengal Polls 2021

LIVE Blog: Final phase of Bengal polls underway

| @indiablooms | Apr 29, 2021, at 03:56 pm

The eighth and final phase of prolonged West Bengal assembly elections is underway on Thursday. The final phase covers 35 assembly constituencies spread across four districts, Malda (06), Murshidabad (11), Birbhum (11) and Kolkata (07). 753 coys of Central paramilitary forces have been deployed out of which 641 coys of CAPF will be involved in protecting polling stations. Remaining forces will be used as QRT & some will be kept in reserve. State armed and unarmed police forces will also be used. Presently, 753 coys of CAPF are in WB as 318 companies have already been released from election duties. For Birbhum, ECI has appointed six additional police observers. Meanwhile, a repoll is conducted at polling booth no. 126 in Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi. While the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its prime challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are fighting to capture power in the state, the Left-Congress-ISF-led alliance Sanjukta Morcha are striving to stay relevant in the Bengal politics. 

LIVE Updates

West Bengal Assembly Election Phase VIII (Apr 29) voter turnout till 5:00 pm:

Overall: 76.07%

Birbhum: 81.82%
Kolkata North: 57.85%
Malda: 79.98%
Murshidabad: 78.09%

West Bengal Assembly Election Phase VIII (Apr 29) voter turnout till 3:00 pm

29 Apr 2021, 3:00 pm

Overall: 68.46%

Birbhum: 73.88%
Kolkata North: 51.64%
Malda: 70.80%
Murshidabad: 70.91%

BJP's Bolpur candidate attacked

BJP's Bolpur candidate Anirban Ganguly came under attack in Ilambazar. His vehicle was vandalized allegedly by TMC workers. Ganguly escaped unhurt.

Voter turnout over 56 per cent till 1 pm

Overall: 56.28%

Birbhum: 60.31%
Kolkata North: 41.73%
Malda: 58.71%
Murshidabad: 58.86%

West Bengal Assembly Election Phase VIII (Apr 29) voter turnout till 11:00 am

 

Overall: 37.80%

Birbhum: 38.10%
Kolkata North: 27.65%
Malda: 41.67%
Murshidabad: 41.01%

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, his wife cast votes

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar cast their votes at Chowringhee in Kolkata. 

 

Voter turnout over 16 per cent till 9 am

Overall: 16.04%

Birbhum: 13.44%
Kolkata North: 12.89%
Malda: 18.97%
Murshidabad: 18.86%

Former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim casts vote

Former Kolkata Mayor, West Bengal Minister and TMC candidate from Kolkata Port, Firhad Hakim, cast his vote. 

(Image Credit: twitter.com/FirhadHakim)

PM Modi urges people to vote

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Last phase of the 2021 West Bengal elections takes place today. In line with the COVID-19 protocols, I call upon people to cast their vote and enrich the festival of democracy."

 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.