- 20 hours ago
Phase one of the West Bengal elections covered 152 constituencies across 16 districts, recording a voter turnout of approximately 90 percent by late afternoon.
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00:01Good evening, I am coming to you live from Havda in Battleground, West Bengal, where sometime from now, Prime Minister
00:09Narendra Modi will be holding a roadshow.
00:12I am very close to Belur Madh, which is one of the most iconic cultural and heritage centres in Havda,
00:19which is known for the background of the Ramakrishna Madh, which is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Madh, of the
00:27Ramakrishna Mission.
00:29And hence the religious, social and cultural significance of the place, where the Prime Minister will be arriving shortly, cannot
00:37be missed.
00:38Even as we speak, 152 of 294 seats are polling in Bengal, which is roughly 16 districts, most of which
00:51are in North Bengal,
00:52which is seen as a stronghold of the BJP, where the BJP has managed to maintain a consistent, consistently high
01:01vote share.
01:02But today, like we have seen in the past, there has not been much of a violence, although there were
01:08certain reports which came in of incidents of violence from several parts of these 16 districts.
01:15Overall, Bengalis have come out and voted in high numbers in these 16 districts.
01:22These 16 districts, of which the overall polling percentage till 3pm was around 78%.
01:31So it is heading upward and is really going high.
01:35So what are the big takeaways of day one of the polling?
01:39Remember, these elections in Bengal are being held in two phases, very different from 2021 when the elections were held
01:48in eight phases.
01:50First up, a quick recap of all that happened today.
01:57Ballots and brawl outs.
01:59Bengal went to vote under the shadow of violence once again.
02:03As phase one of polling was underway, the familiar specter of clashes and chaos returned to haunt the electoral battlefield.
02:12The biggest flashpoint, Murshidabad.
02:16Clashes intensified after a mob attacked AJ-UP chief and Nauda candidate Humayun Kabir's car, pushing the situation to the
02:24brink.
02:25Kabir came under attack during a sit-in protest.
02:28Dramatic visuals showed mobs some carrying TMC flags, chasing his vehicle, raising serious questions over law and order in this
02:37crucial district.
02:39He hit out fiercely, accusing the TMC goons of spreading fear on poll day and alleging local police complicity.
02:47He claims central forces failed to step in and that even women and children were caught in the violence.
03:18The violence, he says, stemmed from the aftermath of a crude bomb attack in Nauda on the street.
03:35And it's not just Murshidabad.
03:38In South Dinajpur's Kumar Ganj, BJP candidate Chubhendu Shorkar was allegedly assaulted at a polling booth after raising booth jamming
03:46allegations.
03:47Police had to step in and rescue him and he was forced to flee the scene.
03:51Oh yeah, all.
03:53Didn't even want to go out there at that point, we were marginalized.
04:02We are forced on the team.
04:02Three caught-goers and three caught again.
04:05This energy was forced to die in, and we suffered from the team.
04:09We just fell and attacked by 4-4 seekers.
04:11The people shared a little.
04:12And so, after a meeting, we were attacked too.
04:17In Asan Sol, BJP candidate Agni Mitra Paul's car got attacked too.
04:22According to her, the incident occurred in Baranpur's Rehmat Nagar while she was inspecting polling booths.
04:28As she was leaving the area, a stone was allegedly hurled at her vehicle from behind, shattering the rear glass.
04:54In Birbhum, Slappur, a BJP booth agent, Bishwajit Mondal, was allegedly attacked and suffered a head injury during voting.
05:03The injured agent was rushed to a local health centre for treatment.
05:19In other high-stakes battleground, Nandigram, LOP's Windu Adhikari, after casting his vote, launched a blistering attack on the state
05:27government,
05:28claiming Hindus in Bengal are upset, even citing distress calls from women voters.
05:52High turnout, higher stakes, and an even higher pitch of political confrontation.
05:58As Bengal votes, the battle for power is unfolding, not just through ballots, but amid allegations, clashes, and a deepening
06:07war of narratives.
06:09Bureau Report, India Today.
06:15Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in West Bengal.
06:18In fact, he is in West Bengal campaigning for these elections.
06:21He has launched a skating attack on Mamata Banerjee once again, taking the Jungle Raj jibe at the Trinmul Congress
06:28government.
06:42The Tribune Kerry over there was a national landmark that has state and gedaan at the referee moving from land
06:44to the back of the nation.
06:44In the country, where after theуватиary 물론 was pitiful...
06:50Meyerãy in West Bengal will remain in the settled sẽ of BCP.
06:54They fought for future visit in me.
06:59If Mamta Ji has not done a polarisation of Bengal,
07:03then there is no way for BJP.
07:07Brothers and sisters, the Congress Party is fighting with BJP
07:12and the BJP knows that the Congress Party can't stop BJP.
07:29Even as voting continues, campaigning for Phase 2 hits top gear.
07:35From Krishnanagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims the surge in voter turnout is a sign of change.
07:40I have heard that Jalmuri has also given some people to the people.
07:54I have seen the Jalmuri, but the Jal is on TMZ.
08:05The Prime Minister's poll pitch in Bengal called out.
08:12TMC's alleged Jangalraj.
08:15The Nirmam government has done one in Bengal in 15 years.
08:26One district, one syndicate.
08:41He also slammed the TMC sarkar over failure to protect Bengals' betis.
08:46The Nirmam government wants to do a number of rights in Quebec.
08:54The National Council is required for the régions of government.
08:59The Nirmam government praises for the ...
09:01The Nirmam government praises for the races.
09:07The National Council has stopped at the local government,
09:17And Maumata is even facing harsh attack from former ally, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, targeting
09:23Didi, accused the TMC of paving the path for BJP in Bengal.
09:49The three-cornered battle for Bengal is sharpening by the hour.
09:53From record voting to rhetorical firepower, the question remains, who will Bengal choose?
09:59Bureau Report, India Today.
10:24It's an extremely bipolar contest that you see across Bengal.
10:30The CPM, the Congress Party, are really not factors in Bengal as of today.
10:36So let me bring in the reporters who are joining us now.
10:40We have Inderjeet Kundu live with us from Nandigram.
10:43But that's where Shuvendu Adhikari is contesting from.
10:46We have Tapas Sen Gupta joining us from Murshidabad, Inderjeet, 1,956.
10:54Shuvendu Adhikari famously speaks about that number with which that was the margin of victory
11:00that he had, razor thin, very limited margin.
11:04But still, he managed to send a message in 2021 that Maumata Banerjee may have won Bengal,
11:10but he lost from the constituency that she contested that was in 2021.
11:15You have been covering Bengal for years.
11:18You're reporting on elections multiple times.
11:20Tell me, when you look at incidents of violence, would you say that overall the incidents of
11:26violence have come down in this election?
11:33Well, Baria, just to tell our audiences, I've just reached Kolkata.
11:37I was in Nandigram all through the day.
11:39But, you know, to answer your question, it is an unprecedented election and a welcome change
11:45at that because the images that we have seen coming in from various parts, be it Murshidabad
11:50or an incident in Birbhom or in South Dunajpur, you know, these are sporadic incidences.
11:57The template that we are used to as far as the elections in Bengal are concerned is very,
12:02very violent.
12:03In that sense, I would say it was a pleasant change.
12:06It's a pleasant surprise for all of us.
12:08The Election Commission clamping down 2,000, 2,40,000 and more armed central security forces.
12:16There was CCTV surveillance across all booths.
12:19So this is a welcome change, a good change.
12:22I've spoken to innumerable voters all through the day and I've seen how enthusiastic they were.
12:27The numbers speak for itself.
12:29Massive turnout numbers till 3 o'clock.
12:31It's almost about 80 percent.
12:33Bengal generally clocks high voter turnout.
12:35That's not a surprise.
12:36But the surprise is the pace at which the numbers started flowing in.
12:41By 11 o'clock in the morning, we saw 42 percent turnout.
12:44That was very high.
12:45So, you know, each political party would, you know, read it as per their convenience.
12:50But the fact on the ground remains that, by and large, the first phase of elections in
12:55West Bengal till now has been very, very peaceful.
12:59And that indeed is a welcome change, perhaps a break away from the violent tradition of,
13:06you know, elections in West Bengal.
13:07Maria.
13:11Yes, so welcome change certainly and a high voter turnout is also sending a lot of message.
13:18And both the sides are reading as per their own wish and convenience.
13:23Of course, by the end of the day, the picture will become clearer which way has Bengal voted
13:29in these 152 constituencies.
13:32I'm going to go back to Inderjeet again to understand the constituency where you were reporting from.
13:39That is Nandi Graham, Shwendo Dukari's constituency.
13:42Inderjeet, what was the sense on the ground?
13:54Well, that, Maria, is the big question right now.
14:14I don't think there are any instant answers at this point in time.
14:18What we did see, of course, and we'll have to study the districts in which the voter turnout
14:22is very, very high.
14:23But it's more or less even, evenly spread across all the districts that went into polls today.
14:29As far as East Madhapur is concerned, that, of course, is considered Shwendo Dukari's bastion.
14:35There are 16 seats there.
14:36And Nandi Graham, of course, is his, you know, is his real strength.
14:40You know, he belongs to Kanthi.
14:42That's his hometown, not very far away from Nandi Graham.
14:45I was there all through the day.
14:46Today, I spoke to him.
14:48While he sounded confident, but, you know, there is, we keep reading, you know, the signs
14:53and the body language of leaders to somehow get cues.
14:57Even as we speak, Home Minister is in Kolkata.
15:00The Prime Minister will be holding a roadshow shortly in Havra.
15:03But Shwendo Dukari still remains in Nandi Graham.
15:07All through the day, I've seen him, you know, moving away from one polling station to the other.
15:13Nandi Graham has two blocks, Block 1 and Block 2.
15:15And most of his travels and most of his visits today was concentrated in Block 2,
15:21which has a substantial minority population.
15:24And where, you know, there could be a little less support for him compared to Block 1,
15:29which en masse votes for Shwendo Dukari because it has, it is Hindu majority.
15:33So it seemed Shwendo Dukari, Shwendo Dukari was more confident about Block 1.
15:37And therefore, he concentrated his efforts of moving around from one booth to the other,
15:42mostly in Block 2.
15:43And he still continues to do that.
15:45Is it a sign of confidence or is it a sign of lack of confidence?
15:48One can read the way one wants to.
15:50But the fact remains that Nandi Graham is a critical, critical fight for him.
15:55You won it for 1956 votes, as you just said.
15:58But that was Mamata Banerjee pitted against him.
16:01This time, there is no high-profile candidate.
16:03It's Probit Rokor, who is supposed to be one of his close aides at one point in time.
16:07Not a high-profile candidate at that.
16:10So advantage to Shwendo Dukari, no doubt about it.
16:14But clearly, it will also send a very, very important message.
16:18Shwendo Dukari must win Nandi Graham.
16:20He cannot afford to lose Nandi Graham in this election.
16:25Yes, and in many ways, I would say he is the face of the BJP in Bengal.
16:31One of the leaders that people of Bengal relate to.
16:34And when Home Minister Amit Shah reiterates that the Chief Minister, the BJP gets the mandate on Ford,
16:42will be Hindi-speaking, Bengali-speaking, Bengali-educated, from son of the soil,
16:49is that really Shwendo Dukari?
16:52That remains to be seen.
16:52The emphasis on somebody who is from Bengal, who is Bengali-speaking, understands Bengali tradition,
17:00is deeply rooted in culture, is the message that is coming in repeatedly from the BJP top leadership.
17:09And that really is the story of Bengal.
17:11As you sum it up rightly, BJP, former BJP versus present TMC, that is how it is playing out.
17:19People switch sides, understanding fully well which way the wind is blowing.
17:24Let me bring in Anirban now, who is joining us from Bairampur.
17:27An important constituency again.
17:29Anirban, what is your sense of this high water turnout in Bengal?
17:3416 districts to be specific.
17:3716 districts to be specific.
17:41Well, see, one thing you have to remember, what Mamata Banerjee today stated,
17:46that this is the thing that is the repercussion of the SIR.
17:51But right now, what we have seen is the major voting in the Bairampur constituency,
17:59as well as the other constituencies, the Regi inaugural, Nauda.
18:02And you know that as Murshidabad is having a history of violence,
18:07today also it's heated by the violence, as well as Humayun Kabir,
18:11who is giving the minority community oxygen via Babri Masjid.
18:17And what we have seen, that he was attacked.
18:20And lots of people have grudge over him.
18:23And also, but he is confident that he can make Murshidabad win through his party.
18:29And also what we have seen, a sense of humour, that is Adhir Ranjan Choudhury,
18:34who is also contesting from the Bahurumpur seat.
18:37He is the Congress veteran, and he is already seeking for his political identity.
18:44As what we have seen yet also, that he lost in Lok Sabha elections against Yusuf Pathan.
18:52But right now, what Murshidabad is turning up is a high voter turn up.
18:57And also, they are looking for some change as well.
19:01As well, what we have seen, that Humayun Kabir is also saying that he will lead in the Murshidabad district,
19:09as well, Adhir Ranjan Choudhury.
19:10And BJP is also keeping their head high in the Murshidabad.
19:16What so far we have learned from the ground, as well as TMC is showing their confidence.
19:23But the final result will come on 4th.
19:27And whether it's a repercussion of the SIR or it's an anti-incumbenment that we will be going to know
19:33on 4th.
19:33Maria.
19:37Yes, we'll know about it, whether it is the impact of SIR, whether this high voter turnout is massive anti
19:43-incumbency, or is it pro-incumbency.
19:46We'll know about the results only on 4th.
19:48But remember, Bengal polls in two phases.
19:51Today is the first phase, which is of 152 of 294 constituencies.
19:56The remaining constituencies vote on 29th.
19:59So thank you so much for joining us, Anirban and Indurjeet.
20:03Let me bring in Darbar Ganguly, who is the founder and editor-in-chief, an MD of Millennium Post.
20:10Gargat Chatterjee is general secretary, Bangla Pakhu, and Sajjan Kumar, political analyst.
20:15I'm going to begin with you, Sajjan.
20:17High voter turnout.
20:18We have seen election after election.
20:20It's anybody's guess which way it will go.
20:23But it's unprecedented.
20:25How much of that has to do with SIR and how much of that has to do with anti-incumbency?
20:31Yes, Maria, it's a combination of both.
20:33One, we have seen in Bihar, because with 8% deletion of names in the total electoral roll,
20:40Bihar witnessed a catapulting of 9%, which means 9% more voting happened.
20:46So partially SIR is one of the reasons, because the common denominator is reduced.
20:52So therefore, the actual voting percentage goes up.
20:54This is one.
20:55But also, on the ground, we do see, of course, there is anti-incumbency, but also we do see
21:02polarization, which is very silent on the religious grounds.
21:06So you see Murshidabad, also majority of the constituency are, as per the, if you individually
21:11say, they have already crossed 80% by 3 p.m.
21:15And similarly in Jhargram tribal area, you also see Jhargram has 81%, which means there
21:21is a sort of massive mobilization of the respective support base.
21:25So therefore, a high percentage is a combination of the SIR, deleting many of the names, which
21:32were not there, but were there in the electoral list, and also the anti-incumbency and the
21:38pro-incumbent voters also.
21:39So that way, this is one.
21:40There are a couple of facts.
21:42One, yes, TMC has been facing huge anti-incumbency.
21:46This is true.
21:47And because in West Bengal culture, the opposition party never got a fair deal since 1977.
21:56CPM came, Congress could never emerge.
21:58Then TMC came, finished CPM.
22:00So therefore, this is also a state wherein violence has been a constant factor when you
22:07try to speculate the electoral outcome.
22:10And that is why in Bengal, people hedge, despite the fact that you go across the crown, see
22:17a sense of upward momentum for the opposition.
22:20And yet we hedge because we do take into cognizance that fear factor plays a role.
22:26And therefore, this high percentage, which way it will go, the bottom line is BJP will
22:32go up.
22:33But to what extent, we cannot say.
22:35TMC will come down.
22:37But will it slide below the majority mark?
22:38So that's an important point.
22:40That is difficult.
22:41Yeah, yeah.
22:43Yes.
22:44That's an important point that you made.
22:45And I'm going to take that thought I had with Darbar.
22:48Darbar, the point that is being made here, particularly of the culture of violence, which is so
22:55entrenched in the elections which happen in Bengal.
22:59Post-poll violence, violence on the polling day, all that is part of how elections happen
23:06in Bengal.
23:06That's how we have seen.
23:08When you see a polling of this nature where there has been a significant slide in overall
23:14violence, the violence has been limited to just few pockets, and even that has been contained.
23:21How do you look at that?
23:22What is your reading?
23:25First of all, the amount of central paramilitary forces which has been gathered in Bengal is
23:33unprecedented.
23:35I think almost 75% of the, or even if it is not more than that, 2,40,000 paramilitary
23:43forces
23:43are posted in Bengal.
23:45And the home minister himself will sit in Bengal.
23:48Darbar, just hold on to your thoughts.
23:50Prime Minister Modi has arrived at Belur Mat.
23:53That's from where his road show in Havra, where I am at present, will begin.
23:58The significance of Belur Mat is that it is one of the most important spiritual and cultural
24:04institutions.
24:06It is the headquarter of Ramakrishna Mutt and Ramakrishna Mission, which was founded by Swami Vivekanan.
24:12And from here, there is a worldwide network of schools, hospitals, and relief work which
24:19is run.
24:19Of course, it is set on the Hugli.
24:22It draws pilgrims and also tourists and seekers from all over the world.
24:27And that's the significance of where the prime minister is beginning his road show in Havra.
24:33Go ahead.
24:33Darbar.
24:35So, that unprecedented security measures which has been taken, that has created a kind of
24:43a situation which I personally feel that is going largely in favor of Mamta Banerjee, is
24:50that the entire central government, entire central machinery, is trying to promote BJP's cause.
24:59And the election commission's role has been criticized a number of times because the whole
25:07process of SIR, which they wanted to finish at such a short time of time, and the amount
25:14of people whose name got deleted, and you know that for the first time Supreme Court had to
25:20intervene for the whole process, logical discrepancy clause which has been incorporated first time
25:29in West Bengal, it created a situation where it is emerging that Mrs. Mamta Banerjee is fighting
25:37with the entire central machinery.
25:40Now, I always, I said in the morning also, the high turnout is a reflection of that.
25:48Firstly, people are very scared that if I don't vote this time, next time my name might be deleted,
25:56number one.
25:57Number two, that it is also one form of protest that, you know, everybody should extend their
26:04support in or in favor.
26:06There are issues of anti-incumbency definitely, which the present government is suffering.
26:12But at the same time, I don't see a situation where the ruling TMC has lost all its public
26:22support, rather the kind of rallies which Mamta Banerjee and Obishek Banerjee, and even
26:29I must add one more name, film star Dev, the kind of rallies and the kind of public, what
26:36you call expression, which are expressed openly, I don't think that even after the finish of
26:45the first phase of the election, BJP will be doing exceptionally well, yet this particular
26:52150 seats were…
26:54Okay, let me bring in Garga.
26:57Garga Chatterjee, what's your reading of this high voter turnout?
27:03Garga Chatterjee, So there has been a campaign this time that about… so the facts are that
27:11about give or take 50 lakh people who should be voting are not voting in this election, okay,
27:20of which 64% are Hindus and 34% are Muslims, so it's a staggering number.
27:26So there has been a campaign, number one, about that this time, my vote will be for someone
27:34who cannot vote this time, okay, so that's a very large movement that is going on among
27:41Bengalis, okay, that's number one.
27:43Secondly, silently, but surely, we saw this phenomenon in Bihar also, that this time, to
27:51not only have their name on the voter list, but to actually vote has almost been made synonymous
27:59with keeping your citizenship in this country, okay.
28:02So there's a lot of anxiety around this whole process of name being in the list and what are
28:08the consequences of not being there, so almost to a sense of underlining the fact that they
28:13are on the list and they are Indian citizens.
28:16We have seen mobilization not only of migrant Bengali workers, but also among people who would
28:24otherwise be lackadaisical, okay, we will vote later, etc., and not turn up, making sure
28:29that they register their vote.
28:35However, the problem is...
28:36Okay, so people on Bengal are valuing their vote is the larger message, whether it will
28:41be pro-incumbent or anti-incumbent, we will know about it only on 4th, because that's the
28:48mandate day.
28:49Continue to be with us.
28:50Let me bring in Tapas as well.
28:52He is joining us from Mursheedabad to give me a sense of what's happening on the ground.
28:56In Mursheedabad, what is the queues like, are people coming out to vote, because it's
29:02only the last one hour left now?
29:08Well, Maria, it's 5.30, almost dusk, and I'll show you the scenario.
29:14This is Reji Nagar, which is predominantly a Muslim-dominated area, and you can see the
29:19participation of women voters.
29:21Some of them are standing in the queue since last two, two and a half hours, but they are
29:26going to cast their vote, what they say, and for that reason, they have come up today, despite
29:32the heat and humidity.
29:33Even on the other, the male members have also come in large number.
29:37We were speaking to some of them a little while back, and they were saying that it was
29:41predominantly that migrant workers who reside outside the state came around this time to
29:48cause their mandate, they can come across to some.
29:51This is the case of Reji Nagar, which is a lot of vote here, or is that there is a
29:54lot of
29:55voting?
30:24No, no.
30:36Well, Maria, that's you heard that people from outside, the migrant workers have come in large number this time around
30:44to cast their mandate.
30:45There is an air of anxiety, obviously, that after implementation of SIR, what would happen?
30:51So nobody wants to miss out their share of mandate.
30:54So they came from different areas to cast.
30:57And another main issue is the heavy deployment of central paramilitary forces that have ensured that we have a free
31:03and fair election in this first phase of election.
31:07By far, what I had witnessed throughout my career reporting from Murshidabad and adjoining districts where we had seen poll
31:14violence happening this time around,
31:15if you leave apart the incident of Humayun Kabir, by far in Murshidabad district, we haven't seen any such big
31:22violence or poll violence.
31:24But remember, Murshidabad is also known for post-poll violence.
31:29Once the poll gets over, the night becomes a nightmare for several residents across different villages.
31:35So we are yet not over, even if the voting time gets over in the next one hour or so.
31:41But tonight is going to be very crucial.
31:43But overall, I have seen people around.
31:44I have spoken to people around.
31:46They say that this time they feel more safer.
31:49And hence, they came out in large number to cast their mandate.
31:53And participation of women and senior citizens were really unprecedented turnout that we had seen.
32:02Okay, thank you so much for joining us.
32:04Let me bring in the guests again.
32:06And 30 seconds to all of you.
32:08So let me begin with Darbar Ganguly.
32:10Darbar Ganguly, you say that this is a deeply polarized election.
32:14But if the deletion from the voter list is close to 60% of the Hindus,
32:21then how do you look at the election being as of today on the chessboard?
32:29For the deletion of names, BJP is going to suffer much more than what was anticipated.
32:36But at the same time, the anti-incumbency also will help them in certain areas.
32:44But so far, my primary reading that BJP's results is not going to be exceptionally well compared to the last
32:57time.
33:01Okay, so you are sensing perhaps the same performance of the BJP as it was in 2021.
33:08But, Sajjan, look at the graph and the growth of this party.
33:122016, the BJP had won three seats.
33:16It goes up to 77 in 2021.
33:20And I have been speaking to top BJP leaders.
33:22And when I asked them the same question,
33:25that what is giving the party this confidence that they could get the mandate on 4th,
33:31they cite the same reason.
33:34That just look at the growth of the party.
33:36The trajectory of growth from 3 to 77,
33:39then why can't they get 170 this time around?
33:44Yes, Badiya, that's a spectacular growth.
33:46But let's also remember that overwhelmingly,
33:49the sentiment for BJP arrived too early.
33:52But the organizational requirement, which is a must in Bengal,
33:57therein BJP suffers, especially in rural areas.
34:00So, whatever catapulting is happening in favor of BJP,
34:03it's because of people's overwhelming sentiment.
34:06But in many areas, and this is my fear, my caution,
34:10that while the sentiment is there,
34:11because of the fear culture, which is a psychological war
34:14that ruling party plays and employs in Bengal,
34:18this is unique to the state,
34:20may prevent some of the voters who may want to vote
34:23across the Rubicon, but may fear that there would be repercussions.
34:27One last point, what is different in Bengal?
34:30In West of India, the voters talk among themselves,
34:33which party they want to talk.
34:34In Bengal, you do not see a public sphere
34:37of open declaration of their political choice.
34:39People are silent because they fear the repercussions.
34:42So, therefore, people do not trust that what they are thinking
34:45is also the sentiment in the rest of the Bengal,
34:48because you do not see a public talk at TS talks, etc.
34:52And that is why BJP momentum is ours.
34:55So, you're saying, you're making an interesting point,
34:59you're making an interesting point here, Sajjan,
35:01that there is no pan-Bengal sentiment.
35:04If the BJP is gaining, it is gaining in certain pockets.
35:07In certain pockets, Mamata is holding on,
35:10and Mamata Banerjee is holding on, the Chief Minister,
35:13and in certain pockets, you see a high percentage of silent voters,
35:17because they are also hedging their bets.
35:20They are being careful.
35:21They do not know how the vote is going on in these 16 constituencies today.
35:27So, perhaps when Bengal polls on 29th,
35:31that is the second phase,
35:32where the remaining part of 152 polling today,
35:37the remaining part will be polling on 29th.
35:41In this interim, you will see both the sides,
35:45BJP and the Trinamul Congress say that their performance has been phenomenal,
35:50and that they are in the upwards of 100.
35:55Because they have to give that confidence to their voters and supporters
35:59that they are closing the finishing line,
36:05they are nearing the finishing line,
36:06and hence, people should come out and cast their vote.
36:09So, the last 30 seconds to you, Garga Chatterjee.
36:11Of course, we do not know whether this is pro-incumbency or anti-incumbency,
36:16but the sense certainly is that an unprecedented voter turnout,
36:22absolutely nil poll violence,
36:25more or less free and fair election that Bengal has not seen in decades,
36:30is a sign of something which is happening,
36:34something which is being read,
36:36but perhaps everybody will be hedging their bets
36:39before putting it on there and on your face.
36:41Go ahead, Garga, 30 seconds, quickly.
36:44So, if people are coming out to vote in huge percentages,
36:49the basic minimum is that they would be able to choose their chief minister, right?
36:54They are coming out to vote.
36:56If, for example, now people from outside the state
36:59actually make statements about who West Bengal's chief minister is
37:03or will be and what attributes that person will have,
37:07that means that it is very unlikely
37:09that people are coming out in huge numbers to vote
37:12so that their vote doesn't count
37:14and somebody from outside of Bengal
37:16actually makes a choice who their chief minister will be.
37:23Okay.
37:24Darbar Ganguly.
37:28And, Sarjan, thank you so much for joining us
37:31and thank you to Garga as well.
37:33A piece of breaking news coming in now.
37:35It is a direct face-off again between Home Minister Amit Shah
37:38and Mamata Banuji, the chief minister of Bengal.
37:42Home Minister Amit Shah has predicted
37:44TMC's total and complete rout.
37:46He is saying that the BJP is forming government
37:49with absolute majority.
37:51In fact, the BJP leadership feels
37:53that they are in upwards of 170
37:55in this 294-member Bengal assembly.
37:59Mamata Banuji has hit back at Amit Shah.
38:02She has said that Mr. Shah is sitting in Kolkata
38:06and is trying to intimidate.
38:08That is the charge that is coming in from Amit Abuji
38:11that Home Minister Amit Shah is trying to intimidate
38:14officials while sitting in Kolkata.
38:19Let's listen in to both the sides
38:20and then we slip into a short break.
38:22I will say that there are 5 people
38:26on the same way in terms of the community.
38:32God is saying that one is going to be
38:45including theAA on the other side of the penalty.
38:46How we had to compete today
38:51and we and have to come in Hollywood with
38:51mult fasculo all future ng pot
38:51maybe
38:51નિશાન પર બટં દબાના હે ભાજપ�સ સરકાર બનાને
38:59બટં નહી દબાના હે બટં દબાના હે બંગાલ ખુસ પેથ્યો સે મુક્ત કરને કે બટં દબાના આપની બલચેન બંલ�
39:27કી બલબા આમી ઓણા ખે બલચેના ભીજેવી પાડી ટાકે એતો મુહા મુામુર ખો હાન કાન કી તાને કે આમી આપ�
39:57જિખી ખીળ જાન જામા જામ જળે જામા જામે ખી જ આ ખીપડી જામ તલએંંથ જામ જામ જામ જ
40:22And this is the latest update that is coming in now
40:26from the Election Commission.
40:27Bengal, as of 5 p.m., the voter turnout in Bengal
40:33has been phenomenal, absolutely unprecedented.
40:36Ninety percent voter turnout till 5 p.m.
40:38What is this new record that Bengal is setting in these 152 constituencies?
40:44Remember, it is spread across 16 districts, which is polling even as we speak.
40:49Remember, till 6 p.m. is when the polling will continue.
40:52And all those who are standing in the queue will be allowed to vote
40:56even if it extends till late in the evening.
41:00And as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, that is the other state which is polling.
41:03Tamil Nadu is voting only in one phase.
41:06That is today.
41:07Overall, the voter percentage is around 82%.
41:12Pramod is joining us live.
41:13Pramod, how is this high voter turnout in Tamil Nadu being seen?
41:18By all the sides.
41:21Well, Marisha, by all the sides, there are quite a lot of explanations being provided to it.
41:26First one being claiming that this is because of the special SIR actually
41:30and close to 95 lakh voters were removed from the state of Tamil Nadu.
41:34But as we speak right now, you could see that people are being requested to leave this port as well
41:37because by 6 p.m. this place needs to be closed and any kind of voter who is coming over
41:42here
41:42before that, they can come in and vote but others need to leave.
41:45That's the reason.
41:46You can also see that anybody who is not here or like who are not here to vote,
41:49they have also been requested to leave.
41:50Just like you mentioned, if you enter the premises before 6 p.m.,
41:54you can stay inside, you can vote and leave.
41:56Otherwise, you will have to.
41:57And for Tamil Nadu, 82.24% is like a big record
42:01because last time we believe it was up to 72% by 7 p.m.
42:04But even by 5 p.m. we have 82.2%.
42:06However, we are also expecting it to at least increase by another 6 to 7% by 7 p.m.
42:29So, Pramod, thank you for joining us.
42:31Of course, the final number from both the states will be coming only around 7.38 p.m.
42:36So, we'll have to wait for that number.
42:39But in some time from now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Havda
42:43will be crossing that barricade.
42:46There is huge presence of people on both the sides.
42:49They want to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister.
42:52He is, of course, the star campaigner of the BJP in Bengal.
42:56Home Minister Amit Shah, the strategist who has been now parked in Bengal
43:02and in Kolkata, strategizing with his party leaders, with the booth workers.
43:07Because that's how the BJP is fighting this election.
43:10It's a case of all hands on deck.
43:12And on the other hand, it's also about all hands on deck.
43:16Mahmouda Banerjee is fighting the biggest battle of her political career.
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