Kolkata: Polling is underway in 35 seats in the eighth and final phase today amid rapidly increasing cases of corona infection in West Bengal. More than 84 lakh voters will decide the fate of more than 283 candidates. All eyes will be on Trinamool Congress (TMC) Birbhum district president Anubrata Mandal, who is under strict supervision of the Election Commission. At least 641 central forces companies have been entrusted with security responsibility to ensure free and fair voting in the 8th phase.

Polling is underway at 11 860 polling stations for 11 assembly seats each in Murshibad and Birbhum, 6 in Malda and 7 in Kolkata in the last phase. About 17 seats in Malda and Murshidabad districts are likely to face a triangular contest, where the Left-Congress-ISF alliance, apart from trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has a good hold. The counting will take place on 2nd May. In the last phase of polling for 35 assembly seats, 37.80 per cent voters exercised their franchise till 11 am.

Earlier this morning, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife cast their votes in Kolkata. After casting his vote, the governor said that 'elections are the biggest festival of democracy. We both voted and I am very happy. Covid protocol is being followed completely. The Election Commission and the CAPF have done a very good job. A large number of voting in 7 phases shows trust in democracy.'

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