Narendra Modi said high voter turnout in West Bengal shows people are voting “without fear” and points to a BJP win. He said large crowds at polling booths reflect a desire to remove the Trinamool Congress. “Voting in Bengal is taking place in a fearless atmosphere, unimaginable in the last six or seven decades,” he said. He added that such participation strengthens democracy. Modi urged voters to continue coming out in large numbers. The Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping high turnout will help it form the government. Results will be declared on May 4. (PC: India Today)

Phase 2 voting in West Bengal saw EVM glitches, clashes and sharp exchanges between leaders. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari reached the same booth in Bhabanipur and traded barbs. Banerjee alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to “rig” polls, while BJP accused the Trinamool Congress of violence. EVM malfunction in Howrah led to protests and arrests. A BJP agent was allegedly attacked in Nadia. TMC MP Derek O'Brien challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign if TMC wins. Both sides also traded claims of voter intimidation. (PC: HT)

Voting in West Bengal’s final phase saw protests over alleged “EVM glitches” and delays at several booths. Clashes were reported in Bally, Baranagar and Hooghly. Nearly 40% turnout was recorded by 11 am. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused central forces of acting “as per the BJP’s directions” and showed a clip of an injured party worker. The Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress traded charges during polling. In Bally, two people were detained after a clash. Heavy security was deployed across booths. Over 1,400 candidates are in the fray across 142 seats in South Bengal. (PC: HT)

The Bharatiya Janata Party accused the Trinamool Congress of poll malpractice during Bengal voting. BJP leader Amit Malviya said the party’s voting option was “blocked using a tape” in booths in Falta, Diamond Harbour. He called it the “Diamond Harbour Model” and sought repolling in affected booths. The area is linked to Abhishek Banerjee. The TMC denied the charge. Spokesperson Riju Dutta said, “We are not doing it,” and blamed election officials. State election chief Manoj Agarwal said action is being taken on complaints. (PC: NDTV)

Violence was reported as West Bengal voted in the final phase across 142 seats on Wednesday. Voter turnout stood at 18.93% by 9 am. The contest is mainly between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. In Nadia, a BJP polling agent alleged he was beaten by “15-16 TMC supporters,” claiming one carried a gun. A BJP camp office was also vandalised. In Howrah, voting was briefly disrupted due to an EVM glitch. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces Suvendu Adhikari in a key contest. The BJP, backed by leaders like Amit Shah, aims to break TMC’s stronghold in South Bengal. (PC: India Today)

Incidents of violence and vandalism were reported during early voting hours in the second phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal, with clashes reported from Chapra, Shantipur, Nimtala and Bhangar. A polling agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party was allegedly assaulted at a booth in Nadia district, with party leaders blaming workers linked to the Trinamool Congress. The injured individual was hospitalised after sustaining head injuries. While a complaint has been filed, the ruling party has denied the allegations. Police confirmed disturbances at multiple locations as voting continued amid heightened security and political tensions.

West Bengal votes in the second and final phase of its Assembly elections, covering 142 constituencies across the politically crucial southern belt, including Kolkata and adjoining districts. Voting continues till 6:30 pm, with high turnout expected following strong participation in Phase 1. The region has traditionally been dominated by the Trinamool Congress, which won 123 of these seats in 2021, while the Bharatiya Janata Party secured 18. The contest now centres on whether the BJP can break into this stronghold or if Mamata Banerjee retains control and moves toward a fourth consecutive term.

West Bengal will vote in the second phase of elections across 142 seats on Wednesday. Over 1,448 candidates are in the fray.   The key contest is in Bhabanipur, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Mamata is seeking a fourth term.   Around 3.22 crore voters are eligible to vote. This includes over 4.12 lakh first-time voters.   Security has been tightened before polling. Officials said 2,473 people were detained as a precaution.   The first phase saw a turnout of 92.72 per cent. Results will be declared on May 4. (PC: X)

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking the urgent removal of IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma from poll duty in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas.   The plea calls him “highly partisan” and says he acted beyond his role as an observer. It alleges “acts of intimidation, undue influence, and threats” against political candidates.   Sharma was deployed by the Election Commission of India to ensure fair polling.   The move has triggered a political row. The Trinamool Congress has protested, while the Bharatiya Janata Party backed the deployment. (PC: HT)

With Phase 2 of the West Bengal polls a day away, more than 12 lakh voter appeals remain pending before tribunals set up on orders of the Supreme Court of India. Out of around 12.9 lakh cases, only 1,468 have been cleared and six rejected. Lakhs remain unsure of their voting status. Long queues were seen at the Joka tribunal centre in Kolkata as people rushed to file claims. Officials said the process is moving slowly. Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, “Perhaps they can’t vote, but their right to remain on the rolls shall be preserved.” The court had allowed voting only if appeals were cleared before deadlines. (PC: India Today)