West Bengal, Assam first phase polling underway amid Covid-19 protocols

Polling for the first phase of West Bengal and Assam assembly elections are underway amid Covid-19 protocols and guidelines. Despite the continuous spike in coronavirus cases, polling booths across West Bengal and Assam witnessing long queues of people, standing to cast their votes. 

The first voter welcomed with a gamusa and a sapling in model polling station in Batadraba, Assam.

Election Materials to Polling Officers in Tezpur on March 26, 2021, ahead of Assam assembly polls.

Glimpses from Biswanath, Dhakuakhana and Jorhat

Glimpses from Booths at Purulia Teachers Training College

Long queues were seen outside most booths in the initial hours with people stepping out early to avoid the sweltering heat, besides the uncertainty of being able to cast their votes in case of violence later in the day.

PWD voter greeted with a gamusa in Model polling station in Rupohi, Nagaon election district

A total of 300 companies of security forces have been deployed in the first phase, in which people are voting at 11,537 polling stations across 12 districts of upper Assam and the northern bank of Brahmaputra.

The elections, which will continue till 6 pm, are being held amid tight security with the EC deploying around 730 companies of central forces, guarding 10,288 polling booths housed in 7,061 premises.