Across 45 assembly constituencies, the fifth phase of West Bengal election is being held today. The districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman are in the fray in this phase of West Bengal election 2021. A total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the contest in this phase. According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), one-fourth of the total candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

West Bengal election’s fifth phase has seen a voter turnout of 36.02% till now.

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

The fifth phase is being carried out when the Covid19 is in a resurge mode across the country. In this situation, Election Commission of India has decided to limit the time of campaigning for the remaining three phases and has extended the silence period to 72 hours for each of the phases.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

Voting is being held at 15,789 polling stations across the 45 constituencies in the fray covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman in Phase 5 of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2021. ITBP troops are guarding the polling booths in Anulia, Ranaghat and Purba Bardhaman. Election Commission of India has sought a report over the sudden death of a BJP polling agent at booth number 107 in Kamarhati today. Minister & TMC candidate from Bidhannagar, Sujit Bose visited the polling booth in East Calcutta Girls College in the assembly constituency.

Also See: West Bengal 2021: Battleground for BJP and TMC

After fifth-phase, the sixth phase for 43 seats will be held on April 22, seventh phase on April 26 for 36 seats and the last and eighth phase would be on April 29 for 35 seats. West Bengal assembly election, this year, is a high-pitched battle between TMC, which is looking forward to a third term, and BJP looking forward to making inroads into the state using religious identity-based polarization.

The results of the election will be declared after vote counting on May 02.