80% voting in West Bengal, 73% in Assam in second phase, says EC

After the conclusion of the second phase of voting, EVM machine sealed in presence of the presiding officer at Sarkarchak Junior High School polling booth in Suryanagar village under Kakdwip Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in Bengal.

73.03% and 80.43% voter turnout recorded till 6 pm in the second phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal, says Election Commission.

72.65% polling in Assam and 79.53% polling in West Bengal have been recorded till 5:22 pm, according to the Election Commission of India.

TMC has lodged a complaint with Election Commission alleging capturing of 8 booths by BJP workers in Moyna constituency. "BJP workers are attempting to take control of EVM & are rigging the booth. CRPF deployed at the booth is not taking any action," the complaint mentions.

PM Modi addressed a rally in Bengal's Uluberia on Thursday and targeted the incumbent chief minister Mamata Banerjee saying she has accepted her defeat, her actions in Nandigram today gives a clear indication.

Addressing the rally, the Prime Minister said, "people of Bengal have decided -- Didi must go. People of Nandigram have fulfilled this dream today. People can't wait any longer to save their future & identity. They are not just participating in polling, they are paving the way for renaissance in Bengal."

"Sometimes Didi calls me a tourist, sometimes an outsider. Didi, you consider infiltrators as your own but call children of Bharat Mata as outsiders. Didi, stop distinguishing people and insulting the Constitution by labelling people as outsiders," PM Modi added.

As voting in the second phase is underway in Bengal, rucks continue near a polling booth in Debra where locals had earlier alleged that people from outside are being called to create problems here. Locals now say, "We want Bharti didi to leave immediately". BJP's Bharti Ghosh & TMC's Humayun Kabir are contesting from here.

West Bengal and Assam have recorded 71% and 63% voting till 3:37 pm in the second phase. 

Goons from other states creating ruckus here, says Mamata Banerjee after Suvendu Adhikari's convoy attacked in Nandigram. 

West Bengal Chief Minister has called Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to complain against the violence in Nandigram where polling is underway. Mamata's telephone call to the Governor came after her rival BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari's convoy was pelted with stones in Nandigram. 

West Bengal Assembly Election: 8 per cent voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in 30 seats where polling is underway for second phase.

Congress leader Sushmita Dev casts her vote at a polling station in Silchar. 

Long queues were seen outside most of the booths as women stepped out in large numbers during the early hours of polling at 39 seats in the second phase of the assembly elections in Assam. Though there were reports of EVM glitches from some polling stations, the exact figure was yet to be ascertained.

West Bengal elections: 37.42 per cent voter turnout recorded till 11 am in 30 seats where polling is underway for second phase.

Assam elections: 27.45 per cent of 73.45 lakh voters exercise their franchise till 11 am in 39 assembly seats where polling is underway for second phase. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee decided to stay at her war room in the Reyapara area during the polls on Thursday in the Nandigram assembly constituency where she is locked in a fierce prestige battle with confidante-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP. 

Police detain Mohan Singh, BJP's Mandal President of Debra. A ruckus erupted near a polling booth in the Debra assembly constituency today as polling is underway in the second phase of assembly elections

BJP polling agent at booth number 173 in Keshpur beaten up allegedly by TMC workers. The polling agent has been rushed to a hospital. BJP leader Tanmay Ghosh's car vandalised.

10.51% and 13.14% voter turnout recorded till 9 am in the second phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal, respectively: Election Commission of India

BJP's heavyweight Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikary cast his vote soon after polling began on Thursday morning. Riding a bike, Adhikari went to the Nandanayak Bar Primary School around 7.30 to cast his vote. Speaking to reporters, he said that he was confident that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is contesting the elections against him from the Nandigram seat, will lose the polls. "I have a very old relationship with the people of the area. I have a personal relationship with almost every person in Nandigram. Pretty confident that I will win the election. Entire villages have come out to vote in favour of the BJP," he said.

Former MoS Railways & BJP leader Rajen Gohain casts his vote at a polling booth in Nagaon. He says, "BJP will get over 35 seats out of the total 47 in the 1st phase. In the 2nd phase too, we'll get many seats. BJP will undoubtedly form the govt with more than 75 seats."

Hiron Chatterjee, actor and BJP candidate from Kharagpur Sadar assembly constituency, said that people of Bengal want development. "We need a super speciality hospital and a women's college here. A large number of people have come out to cast their vote today," he said.

A worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was found dead in Nandigram's Bhekutia. According to police, the saffron party worker was murdered last night. 

Voters being screened with a temperature gun, given hand sanitiser and hand gloves as they arrive at polling booths for the second phase of Assam Assembly Polls. Visuals from a polling booth in Nagaon.

Bharti Ghosh, BJP candidate from Debra constituency, said that in Nowpara, booth no. 22, Anchal-1, BJP polling agent has been surrounded by 150 TMC goons. "He hasn't been allowed to enter the polling booth. In Barunia, voters being threatened and shown the TMC symbol," she said.

ITBP troops guard polling booths in East Midnapore district and help out senior citizens there, during the second phase of West Bengal Elections

Polling underway at booth number 337 at Surya Kumar High School in Silchar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to the people of West Bengal and Assam to vote in large numbers in the second phase of polling for the Assembly elections. In separate tweets, Shah said people's participation in the election process will ensure peace and prosperity in the two states. "As the voting for the 2nd phase begins in West Bengal, I appeal to everyone to vote in large numbers. Your one vote can bring decisive change. So, come out and vote for a safer and prosperous Bengal," he said. In another tweet, Shah said, "Today is the second phase of polling in Assam and I appeal to everyone to cast their vote without fail. A special appeal to our young voters to exercise their franchise for a peaceful and self-reliant Assam".

BJP leader and party's candidate from Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari, casts his vote. Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is contesting against Adhikari.

A Trinamool Congress worker was allegedly stabbed to death in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district in the early hours of Thursday, hours before polling started in the area, police said. Uttam Dolui, 48, was at a local club in Hariharpur in the district's Keshpur area along with a few others when around 10-15 people allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons. He died on the way to a hospital in Midnapore.

TMC and BJP are contesting all 30 seats, while the CPI(M) is in the fray in 15 constituencies and its alliance partners Congress and ISF are fighting in 13 and two seats, respectively. The elections for the 294 assembly seats in West Bengal are being held in eight phases. The votes will be counted on May 2.

"Second phase of the Assam polls takes place today. Requesting all eligible voters of this phase to strengthen the festival of democracy by exercising their franchise," PM Modi tweets.

"Urging the people of West Bengal in whose seats there is polling taking place today to vote in record numbers," PM Modi tweets.

Second phase of voting for Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam begin

Voting for second phase of Assam Assembly Polls to begin shortly. A total of 39 constituencies out of the remaining 79 are going to polls in the second phase of polling in Assam. The second phase of elections will decide the fate of 345 candidates.