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Md Salim dedicates vote to “disenfranchised” voters

CPI(M) politburo member and West Bengal state secretary Md Salim on Wednesday said he cast his vote in solidarity with those he claimed had been excluded from the electoral process due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

After voting at St Thomas Girls’ School in Kolkata, Salim alleged that the revision drive was carried out with the intent of depriving certain sections of their rights. “I dedicate my vote to those people who are not able to cast their votes today because of a conscious design to disenfranchise them and strip them of their fundamental and constitutional rights,” he said.

Despite the criticism, he noted that polling had largely remained calm, with only isolated disturbances reported. He also pointed to a visible rise in voter participation. “The poll percentage will go up this time… people standing in long queues,” he said, attributing the turnout to concerns over voting rights.

Voting in the second phase saw nearly 40 per cent turnout by 11 am.

Suvendu Adhikari flags Falta row, says BJP monitoring closely

Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, on Wednesday said the BJP was closely tracking allegations from Falta, where the party has claimed its election symbol was covered at a polling booth.

Reacting to the reports, Adhikari indicated that the matter had already reached top leadership and the Election Commission. “We are also monitoring and will do what is required. The Election Commission has also taken cognisance of this,” he said, suggesting further steps would follow depending on the findings.

He added that the issue had been escalated within the party. “Bhupendra Yadav ji called me at 9 am. I conveyed the situation. Just a few minutes back, the home minister, my leader Amit Shah ji, called me. I told him about the Falta incident.”

Calling it a familiar tactic, Adhikari said, “This is TMC's technique. We are taking action.” He noted that polling was still underway, adding, “35 per cent of voting has taken place; a lot remains to be seen.”

BJP alleges irregularities in Falta constituency, seeks repoll

BJP leader Amit Malviya on Wednesday alleged irregularities at polling booths in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency, claiming voters were obstructed from selecting his party during the second phase of West Bengal’s Assembly elections.

In a post on X, Malviya accused local authorities of deliberately tampering with voting options. “This is what Mamata Banerjee was defending when she spoke up for Jehangir Khan, a criminal contesting on a TMC ticket from Falta in Diamond Harbour,” he said. He further alleged, “In several polling booths, the option to vote for the BJP has been blocked using a tape, effectively preventing voters from exercising their choice.”

Calling it the “Diamond Harbour Model,” Malviya demanded fresh polling. “We demand an immediate repoll in all affected booths in Falta,” he said, also flagging Booth 189 among those impacted.

Responding to the claims, the Election Commission said the allegations would be verified, adding that repolling would be ordered if violations were confirmed.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged interference by central forces during voting.

Derek O’Brien dares PM Modi to resign over Bengal polls

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien on Wednesday threw a direct challenge at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he should step down if the BJP fails to defeat the Mamata Banerjee-led party in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

In a video message released during the ongoing campaign, O’Brien argued that Modi had positioned himself as the central face of the BJP’s contest across all constituencies in the state. “You yourself announced that you are the candidate in all 294 seats in Bengal,” he said, framing the election as a personal test of the Prime Minister’s leadership.

He went further, urging Modi to back his campaign rhetoric with accountability. “Stop making tall claims and accept this challenge,” O’Brien said. “On May 4, when Mamata Banerjee and the TMC win Bengal, have the courage to resign from the post of PM.”

The remarks come amid a sharply polarised contest between the ruling TMC and the BJP as voting continues across the state.

BJP candidate Rudranil Ghosh accuses TMC of misleading voters, threats

BJP candidate from the Shibpur assembly seat, Rudranil Ghosh, on Wednesday accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of attempting to mislead voters and undermine the Election Commission during the ongoing polling process.

Referring to earlier protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Ghosh said, “When Mamata Banerjee was protesting the SIR, she had said no names should be deleted. The officers didn't delete the names of people who died 25 years ago.” He alleged that this was done deliberately to create confusion and discredit the poll body.

Ghosh claimed the issue pointed to deeper pressure on officials. “This means that to defame ECI, to confuse, to mislead the people, Mamata Banerjee's officers here did this,” he said, adding that such actions went against the law.

He further alleged intimidation, stating, “their family receives a death threat... if you speak negatively about Trinamool's illegal activities, you'll be threatened and prevented from doing your work...”

Bengal polls: 39.97% turnout recorded till 11 am

West Bengal, the second and final phase of the Assembly elections, has recorded 39.97 per cent voter turnout till 11 am. 

TMC-BJP clash at Khanakul booth in Hooghly district; CRPF says voting peaceful

A clash was reported between BJP and Trinamool Congress polling agents at Booths 147 and 148 in Ramchandrapur Adarsha Bidyabhaban, located in the Khanakul assembly constituency in West Bengal's Hooghly district as voting took place in the final phase of West Bengal’s assembly elections.

According to initial reports, the confrontation briefly disrupted the atmosphere at the polling station before security personnel stepped in.

CRPF Sub-Inspector Usha described the situation as under control, downplaying the severity of the incident. “It was a minor incident. Right now, voting is taking place in a peaceful manner,” she said, indicating that polling had resumed without further disturbance.

She added that adequate deployment had been made at the location. “CRPF's all-women 240 Battalion is deployed here,” she noted, pointing to the presence of central forces to maintain order during the voting process.

Suvendu predicts Bhabanipur win, targets Mamata

Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Wednesday projected confidence about securing a win from Bhabanipur, even as he accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of attempting to influence voters along communal lines.

Speaking to reporters during polling, Adhikari pointed to what he described as strong participation. “I see that voting is going well... The public has woken up, she (Mamata Banerjee) is going. Tell her to go to Ward 77. Why is she coming here to scare Hindu voters?” he said, framing the contest as one where public sentiment had shifted, reported ANI.

He urged voters to step out despite light rain, saying, “Good voting is happening, there should be more voting. It is raining a little, the weather is good. Come out of your house and vote for democracy. Take an umbrella with you and vote.” He added, “She (Mamata Banerjee) will lose, BJP will win. I have lead in seven wards, she will not get anything in 77 ward.”

Elsewhere, a BJP candidate from Shibpur alleged intimidation by TMC workers. “The festival of democracy is being celebrated... More than 6,000 factories have closed, and the young generation here has no work,” he said, accusing the ruling party of attempting to suppress turnout.

Watch: Shantanu Thakur casts vote at Thakurnagar booth

Union Minister of State and Bangaon MP Shantanu Thakur cast his vote at booth number 43 in Thakurnagar, located in North 24 Parganas, during the ongoing polling.

TMC candidate Saokat Molla says NIA presence meant to “scare” voters

TMC candidate from Bhangar, Saokat Molla, on Wednesday, alleged that the presence of central agencies during polling was intended to intimidate party workers in the constituency.

Speaking amid concerns over violence, Molla questioned the deployment of the National Investigation Agency on election day, calling it unprecedented. “NIA team has come here to scare us,” he said, arguing that such a move had not been witnessed in previous elections.

He continued, “We had never seen NIA or CBI or ED on election day. This is the first time we are seeing this,” framing the development as a departure from established polling practices.

Molla, however, maintained that his party would not be deterred. “We will not be scared...” he said, as voting progressed in the constituency.