Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Voting began at 7 AM today for 152 assembly seats in West Bengal and all 234 seats in Tamil Nadu. By-elections are also being held in Gujarat’s Umreth and Maharashtra’s Baramati and Rahuri constituencies. Tight security arrangements have been made in all polling areas.
Polling Disruptions Reported
In West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, voting was temporarily halted at booth number 156 after an EVM malfunction. In Jhargram, panic briefly spread after an elephant entered an area near a polling station close to Jitusol Primary School.
Leaders Cast Their Votes
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari cast his vote in West Bengal. He is contesting from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also in the fray. In Tamil Nadu, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram voted in Karaikudi, while NTK leader Seeman cast his vote in Neelankarai.
Voter Numbers
Tamil Nadu has around 5.73 crore voters who will decide the fate of 4,023 candidates. In West Bengal’s first phase, over 3.60 crore voters are participating across 152 seats, where 1,478 candidates are contesting.
Appeals from Major Leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters in West Bengal to participate enthusiastically, especially women and youth. Home Minister Amit Shah appealed for large turnout, saying the election is important for the state’s future and women’s safety.
TMC also asked voters to cast ballots to protect the values of “Maa, Maati, Maanush” and exercise their democratic rights proudly.
Districts Voting in Bengal
The 16 districts voting in phase one include Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur and Jhargram.
