Bengal Bypolls: 69.29% voter turnout recorded for 6 Assembly seats

LIVE UPDATES:

• 5:36 PM: Approximately 69.29% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm. Taldangra sees the highest voting with a 75.20% turnout followed by Haroa - 73.95%, Medinipur - 71.85%, Sitai - 66.35%, Madarihat - 64.14%, and Naihati - 62.10%.

• 3:37 PM: Approximately 59.67% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm. Taldangra sees the highest voting with a 65% turnout followed by Haroa - 63.11%, Medinipur - 61.54%, Madarihat - 57.98%, Sitai - 58%, and Naihati - 52.40%.

• 1:31 PM: Approximately 45.59% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm. Taldangra sees the highest voting with a 48% turnout followed by Haroa - 47.10%, Medinipur - 46.24%, Madarihat - 46.18%, Sitai - 45%, and Naihati - 39.75%.

• 12:43 PM: TMC files complaint against ISF and BJP over chaos in Madarihat and Haroa constituencies. Jay Prakash Majumdar urged the CEO to intervene.

• 11:39 AM: Approximately 30.03% voter turnout recorded till 11 am. Taldangra sees the highest voting with a 32% turnout followed by Madarihat - 31.86%, Haroa, 31.20%, Sitai - 29% and Naihati - 25.17%.

• 11:31 AM: Madarihat BJP candidate Rahul Lohar faces protest as agitators block his car amid ongoing bypoll. They also raised slogans against him.

• 10:41 AM: Sporadic incidents of violence and electoral irregularities have been reported during the by-elections in six state assemblies, with several complaints registered by various parties. By 9 am, the Election Commission had received a total of 41 complaints, with 16 of them filed by the BJP. Reports suggest that the complaints primarily concern alleged disruptions, attempts at voter intimidation, and irregularities at polling stations. The Election Commission has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and will investigate each complaint to ensure a fair voting process.

• 10:30 AM: TMC goons are roaming around the Sitai constituency to intimidate common voters: Dipak Kumar Roy, BJP candidate. "Since last night, TMC goons are roaming around Sitai constituency to intimidate common voters... They are threatening our supporters not to vote. Today I see many polling booths are empty because voters are scared... TMC and local administration are one...Police are helping the Trinamool party."
• 10:25 AM: Bengal Congress President Shubhankar Sarkar has accused opposition forces of employing terror tactics in multiple parts of the state to intimidate agents and voters. Sarkar alleged that Congress polling agents are not only being prevented from sitting in polling booths but are also being physically harmed, with some agents allegedly killed and thrown out of booths. He further claimed that voters were facing intimidation intended to deter them from casting their votes. In response, Sarkar has demanded immediate intervention from the Election Commission to ensure a free and fair electoral process. “The situation is alarming, and the Election Commission must act to safeguard democracy,” he said. Sarkar urged for stringent measures to protect polling agents and ensure voter security throughout the election.
• 10:02 AM: BJP candidate Rupak Mitra rushed to Malancha High School after reportedly being informed that the party’s polling agent was not permitted to sit in the booth. Mitra, upon arrival, arranged for the agent’s entry and subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission regarding the incident. 
  Additionally, reports surfaced of BJP banners being torn down in some areas in Naihati. The scene grew tense as Mitra reportedly raised his voice and threatened the presiding officer over what he viewed as polling irregularities.
• 9:39 AM: Till 9:00 am, Sitai recorded 12% voting, Madarihat-15%, Naihati-14.51%, Haroa-14.80%, Madinipur-14.36% and Taldangra recorded the highest 18% polling. A total of 14.65% voter turnout was recorded.
• 9:27 AM: BJP leader Nayan Dey from Medinipur has reportedly been placed under house arrest by the state police, sparking allegations of electoral interference. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition, took to social media to express his discontent with the situation, accusing the state police of working in favor of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party. Suvendu Adhikari, on X, said, "Mamata Police are adopting desperate measures to influence the Voting process to extend an upper hand to the TMC Party. Nayan Dey; an important BJP Karyakarta of Chandra GP; Midnapore Sadar Block, is not being allowed to step outside of his house. His house is being constantly monitored by Police. Such 'house arrests' are being made to prevent @BJP4Bengal Karyakartas from participating in the electoral process. How low will TMC & Mamata Police stoop?"
• 9:07 AM: Voter slips with the candidate's photo are allegedly being distributed by Toto. Trinamool was accused of violation of election rules in Taldangra.
• In Naihati, tensions flared early on Wednesday when a BJP booth agent was reportedly prevented from entering booth number 63. The BJP has accused Trinamool of blocking their agent from participating. BJP candidate Rupak Mitra arrived on the scene and personally escorted his party's agent into the booth. Mitra stated, "Trinamool did not allow my agent to enter the booth. I came and sat him inside the booth. I will report the matter to the Election Commission." Trinamool, however, denied the allegations.
• In Haroa’s Sadarpur booth number 200, another incident occurred involving BJP candidate Bimal Das, who argued with a Trinamool booth agent over the positioning of the EVM machine. Das requested that the machine be placed closer to the door, a suggestion that was immediately contested by the Trinamool agent, sparking a dispute between both parties. The altercation quickly attracted party supporters outside the booth, requiring police intervention to diffuse the situation.
• In Sitai, additional complications arose when a mock poll was conducted at Sitai High School without the presence of any polling agents. The polling workers reportedly completed the mock poll phase in the absence of agents, drawing concerns about protocol adherence.