WEB DESK
Polling is underway in Assam and West Bengal for the Third Phase of Assembly Elections. The people were seen standing in long queues in front of the Polling Stations right from the beginning. All the necessary facilities and security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polling during this phase.
The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is being used along with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at every Polling Station, with a view to enhance the transparency and credibility of the election process. The polling will be conducted till 6.00 P.M.
In Assam, 33.18% polling has been reported till 11 am. Over 79 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the third and final phase of polls. State BJP President Ranjeet Kumar Dass, senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are among those who voted so far. Voting is on following all Covid 19 protocols. Special arrangement for senior citizens including wheelchairs has been made in polling stations.
Elections are being conducted in strict adherence to Covid-19 and green protocols. Covid patients and quarantined voters will be permitted in the final hour of polling. Elaborate security arrangements are in place all over the state. Webcasting and CCTV facility is being provided in most of the polling booths to prevent bogus and double voting.
In West Bengal, 14.62% polling has been recorded in the first two hours. Barring a few stray incidents, polling is going on peacefully in 31 assembly constituencies across three districts, Hooghly, Howrah and South 24 Parganas. Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling. 618 companies of central forces have been deployed along with more than 11 thousand state police for the three districts.
In South 24 Parganas, booth number 102 of Satgachia assembly seat has been made as a model from where webcasting will be done for international audiences.
In Uluberia Uttar constituency, a sector officer has been suspended by the ECI as he allegedly took four EVMs outside. Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain has asked for a report regarding the incident.