BackWest Bengal, Assam phase 1 voting: PM Modi calls upon 'young friends to vote' in record numbers
PM Narendra Modi made a vote appeal for the two states in Assamese and Bengali as wellPolling began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. Timings have been extended by an hour due to the Covid-19 pandemic
PremiumPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the people of West Bengal and Assam to go out and vote in record numbers in the first phase of the 2021 elections.
Minutes after polling began for the 30 seats in West Bengal, PM Modi wrote, "I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today to exercise their franchise in record numbers."
The elections in West Bengal are being held in all 9 seats in Purulia, 4 in Bankura, 4 in Jhargram and 6 in Paschim Medinipur, besides the 7 seats in high-stakes Purba Medinipur.
The first phase of polling will decide the electoral fate of 191 candidates including 21 women.
West Bengal will witness a triangular contest this time with the ruing Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress-Left alliance, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the fray.
In his message for Assam, PM Modi tweeted, "The first phase of elections begin in Assam. Urging those eligible to vote in record numbers. I particularly call upon my young friends to vote."
In Assam, a total of 264 candidates are in the fray for 47 seats -- 42 seats from 11 districts of Upper Assam and northern Assam region and five seats from central Assam's Nagaon district
The Prime Minister also tweeted for West Bengal and Assam in Bengali and Assamese as well. Polling began at 7 am today and will end at 6 pm. Timings have been extended by an hour due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BJP hopes to retain power in Assam and defeat the ruling TMC in Bengal. Assam and West Bengal will have three-phase and eight-phase elections, respectively. The counting of votes will take place on 2 May.
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