West Bengal, Assam Assembly election 2021: Prime Minister Modi called on voters to exercise their right to vote.
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged residents of West Bengal and Assam to come out in large numbers and vote in the first phase of state assembly elections.
“The first phase of the elections begins in Assam. Urge those who have the right to vote in record numbers. I especially call on my young friends to vote,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted a few minutes after the start of the ballot in 47 seats in Assam, especially calling on young voters.
The first phase of the elections begins in Assam. Urge those who have the right to vote in record numbers. I especially call on my young friends to vote.
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2021
In his message to Bengal, the Prime Minister, who is on the second day of his visit to Bangladesh, tweeted: “I call on all those who are voters at the polls today to exercise their right to vote in record number.
Today, phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections begins. I ask all those who vote today in the polling stations to exercise their right to vote in record numbers.
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2021
Prime Minister Modi tweeted his call for a vote for the two states of Assamese and Bengali as well. Voting started at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. The deadlines have been extended by an hour due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Today’s poll will decide the fate of 191 candidates in 30 assembly constituencies in West Bengal and 264 candidates out of 47 seats in Assam.
In Bengal, the ruling Trinamool and the opposition BJP – who have led a high-stakes, sometimes strident and often vicious campaign over the past few weeks – will both be eager to get off to a good start. The Congress-Left alliance – widely expected to end up a distant third – is also in the mix.
In Assam, BJP faces challenge from Congress ledmahajot“Or” great alliance “to retain power. In the 2016 Bengal election, Trinamool won 26 of those 30 seats. In Assam, the BJP produced a similar performance to win 35 out of 47 seats.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, State Congressman Ripun Borah and President Hitendranath Goswami some of the biggest names on the ballots. While Mr Sonowal hopes to retain the Majuli seat after winning it in 2016, Mr Borah will face BJP MP Utpal Bora from Gohpur.
Another big name on the ballots today is activist and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, who is running as an independent from Sibsagar because the party was not registered on time.
In Bengal, Jhargam, Medinipur, Khejuri and Potashpur are the closely watched seats. Medinipur is the homeland of Suvendu Adhikari – the former Trinamool MP and close aide to Mamata Banerjee, whose defection to the BJP sparked a furious row with his former party.