"Vote peacefully": BJP's Baranagar candidate Sajal Ghosh urges voters to exercise franchise fearlessly

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Baranagar candidate Sajal Ghosh on Wednesday urged voters to exercise their franchise peacefully and fearlessly as polling for the final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections began in parts of North 24 Parganas.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Baranagar candidate Sajal Ghosh on Wednesday urged voters to exercise their franchise peacefully and fearlessly as polling for the final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections began in parts of North 24 Parganas. Speaking to ANI, BJP Baranagar candidate Ghosh said, "Vote peacefully. Everyone should vote. Vote first, then have refreshments. You should go out without any fear."

BJP candidate from Panihati Assembly constituency, Ratna Debnath, cast her vote at a polling booth and displayed her inked finger. Bharatiya Janata Party's Panihati assembly candidate flagged a possible issue with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), saying that she will be informing election officials about the same.

Ratna Debnath claimed that there was a possible issue with the EVM button while casting her vote and said she would inform polling officials. She thanked early voters, urged others to turn out in large numbers, and expressed hope for justice. Speaking to ANI, Debnath said, "I feel there is some problem with the press button on the EVM. It is taking time to press it; I will inform the officer. I thank every voter who came early to vote, and I appeal to all voters to come out and vote. I believe I will get justice."Debnath is also the mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim.

The scale of the final phase is massive, covering nearly half of the state's total assembly seats, 142 out of 294. An elderly voter showed his inked finger after he cast his vote at a polling booth in North 24 Parganas. Polling is underway amid security arrangements, with voters arriving at booths since early morning.

The second phase of polling is crucial in shaping the electoral trajectory in the state as polling is underway today. Authorities have put in place elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth and peaceful polling across regions. The total electorate is around 3.21 crore (Male: 1,64,35,627 and Female: 1,57,37,418 and Third Gender: 792). 1,448 candidates are in the fray, including 220 women at 41,001 polling stations, with over 8,000 managed entirely by women.

After a record-shattering voter turnout in the first phase, West Bengal enters its second and final phase of polling today. This round is widely seen as the "litmus test" for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), as voting moves into the party's traditional fortresses in South Bengal and Kolkata. Early morning visuals captured a state in "mission mode." Election officials and polling agents gathered at dawn to conduct mock polls, a mandatory procedure to ensure the integrity of EVMs and VVPAT machines.

The high-stakes electoral contest sees the ruling Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, aiming to retain power, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is making strong efforts to expand its presence in the state. These include 39,301 main stations and 1700 auxiliary stations. There are 8,845 all-women-managed stations, 13 PWD-managed stations, and 258 "model" polling stations. There will be webcasting for all 41,001 polling stations.

The results of West Bengal polls will be declared on May 4, along with the outcome of polls in Assam, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. (ANI)