12 Hours to Phase 3 Of WB Election – As it happened

Polling was held in 62 constituencies in four districts of West Bengal in the third phase of Assembly elections. Voters will exercise their franchise in all 22 constituencies in Murshidabad, 17 in Nadia, seven in Kolkata and 16 in rural Bardhaman.

Nearly 14 million voters across 16,461 polling stations came out to decide the fate of 418 candidates. Of them, 61 are crorepatis, 80 have criminal cases against them and 65 of them are facing serious cases related to murder and rape.

Important candidates in this phase include three Trinamool Ministers — Sashi Panja, Sadhan Pandey and Subrata Saha. Two former Ministers, Anisur Rahaman and Debesh Das, both CPI(M) candidates, are in the fray. Congress leader Somendranath Mitra and Mohammad Sohrab, party leader in the Assembly, are also contesting. For the BJP, former State president Rahul Sinha is in the fray in Kolkata.

Timeline in the last 12 hours leading up to the election:

7:25 p.m.: 79.22 per cent voter turnout in Phase 3 of West Bengal Assembly polls: EC
4:21 p.m.: Polling percentage at at 3 pm: Murshidabad 70.32; Nadia 68.62; Kolkata North 49.43; Burdwan 70.55; Overall 67.55
Murshidabad 70.32, Nadia 68.62, Kolkata North 49.43, Burdwan 70.55 Overall 67.55
3.36 p.m.: The Election Commission(EC) has received the reply to the second show cause letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and it is being examined, EC sources said. Earlier EC issued a show cause letter to Ms Banerjee the reply to which was given by the State’s Chief Secretary. The Opposition asked how can the Chief Secretary reply to a show cause notice sent to Ms Banerjee.
3.32 p.m.: Mr Khan was seen on camera in the morning telling his supporters to hit “Commission with shoes”.
3.29 p.m.: The TMC leader Anwar Khan who publicly said derogatory things against Election Commission was arrested, says Kolkata Police
2.25 p.m.: Poll percentage at 1 p.m.: Murshidabad 58.06; Nadia 60.07; Kolkata North 44.14; Bardhaman 58.74; Overall 57.21
1.45 p.m.: The total arrest and detention numbers in north Kolkata has reached 50, say Kolkata police.
1.06 p.m.: After some commotion earlier in the day, voting is peaceful in North Kolkata, report The Hindu’s reporters from the northern part of Kolkata. “Voting was peaceful and I hope the best party will win,” said Bipin Guppta, a businessman, returning after casting his vote in Chowranghee constituency.
11.45 a.m.: Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dibyebdu Sarkar told The Hindu, ” the report submitted to the Election Commission by the SP of Murshidabad states that the person whose body was found in Domkal in the district is not a polling agent of any party. The report states that cutting wounds with sharp weapons were found on the body which was found about 500 metres away from a polling booth.”
11.36 a.m.: 11 arrested in Beleghata Assembly in north Kolkata for trying to influence polling.
11.35 a.m.: Murshidabads SP filed a report to Election Commission on Domkal violence, where one person was killed, says EC sources.
11.30 a.m.: Three injured in Ketugram in Baradhaman after crude bomb explosion.
10.30 a.m.: Poll percentage at 9 am: Murshidabad 20.53, Nadia 18.09, Kolkata North 14.71, Burdwan 17.01. Overall 18.29.
10:00 am Seven persons detained so far from Beleghata area for allegedly trying to influrnce voters in the queue in north Kolkata, a senior police officer said.
09:12 am CPI(M) supporter allegedly beaten up by TMC in Chakdaha in Nadia district.
08.50 a.m.: In Shyampukur seat of north Kolkata where polling is on.
08.35 a.m.: TMC candidate Samik Hussain says the death result of fighting between Congress and Left.
08.30 a.m.: One CPI(M) worker killed in Domkal Assembly seat in Murshidabad
07.40 a.m.: Two CPI-M polling agents allegedly assaulted by TMC workers in the Gayeshpur town in Nadia district.
07:30 am The Election Commission has identified 3,401 hamlets in the phase as vulnerable where extra security and confidence building measures were taken.
07.15 a.m.: CPI(M) polling agents allegedly driven out by TMC cadres in Belieaghata and Kashipur in Kolkata and Ketugram in Bardhaman.
07.10 a.m.: Third phase kicks off at Murshidabad, Nadia, Bardhaman and northern parts of Kolkata at 7 am.
06 55 am Polling will begin at 7 am in 62 constituencies in four districts of West Bengal in the third phase of Assembly elections on Thursday.