In neo-Khela Hobey game; "Mamata's fear mongering" did not work ::: CEC Gyanesh Kumar wins first round .... April 23 polling "largely peaceful" unlike the past

Close to 90 per cent of the 3.60 crore electors turned up to vote till 5 pm. 

The voter turnout is among the highest in recent electoral history in West Bengal. 

CEC Gyanesh Kumar wins first round .... April 23 polling "largely peaceful" unlike the past.

"Mamata's fear mongering" did not work ::: 

'Pro-Poriborton wave'  ::::: Long queues outside polling booths reflected strong voter participation .... electorate frustration with 'aapa's' Muslim-prit and Syndicate-raj exposed !!

Voter turnout figures in West Bengal so far make me certain that BJP set for landslide victory: PM Narendra Modi

Addressing a poll rally in Krishnanagar in Nadia district, Modi also congratulated the Election Commission for keeping “violence during the assembly polls in the state at a minimum”.

"This is the first time in the last 50 years of poll history in Bengal that incidents of violence were kept at a minimum. 

The information I have received so far about the record-breaking turnout makes me certain that this is going to be an overwhelming mandate in favour of a change which Bengal’s voters have already decided to bring about,” the PM said.

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Polling in 16 districts began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security to decide the electoral fate of 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, in 152 constituencies of the 294-strong state assembly. 

Long queues outside polling booths reflected strong voter participation in what is being seen as a crucial round in a high-stakes contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP.

The state recorded 89.93 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm, with the Dakshin Dinajpur district leading with 93.12 per cent polling.

Clashes, allegations of intimidation and attacks on candidates, including on two of the BJP, were reported from several constituencies, prompting the Election Commission to seek detailed reports even as it maintained that polling was "largely peaceful". 

Raghunathganj registers highest turnout at 95.64%

A bomb blast incident was reported in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, following which, AUJP's Humayun Kabir visited the site. 

However, his visit led to a clash between TMC workers and the police. Security personnel were deployed to control the situation as tensions escalated between party workers and police during the polling process. 

The police used mild lathicharge to dispel some of the crowd.

EVM glitches also disrupted voting at a few places in West Bengal.

The first act of violence was reported in West Bengal as the first phase of voting was underway in the state. Several people were injured as unidentified people hurled crude bomb in Nowda, Murshidabad district,