Bengal Rural Poll Highlights: Ballot papers without signature of Presiding Officer will not be counted as valid, says Bengal SEC

Ballot papers without signature of Presiding Officer will not be counted as valid, says Bengal SEC

Ballot papers without the signature of the Presiding Officer and the distinguishing mark rubber stamp affixed at the back of the ballot paper will be considered to be invalid and will not be counted as valid: West Bengal State Election Commission on counting of votes for Panchayat elections

If winter comes, can spring be far behind: WB governor

If winter comes, can spring be far behind: WB governor after meeting Home Minister Amit Shah over panchayat poll violence in state

Darkest hour is just before dawn, says WB Guv after meeting HM Shah

West Bengal Guv CV Ananda Bose arrives at Ministry of Home Affairs to meet Amit Shah

BJP constitutes four-member fact-finding committee to visit violence-affected areas

BJP constitutes a fact-finding committee of four MPs including former law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to visit West Bengal to probe the cases of violence during panchayat polls and present a report to party president J P Nadda

35 crude bombs were recovered from a pond and a field in Beldanga area of Murshidabad

On re-polling day of the Panchayat elections, 35 crude bombs were recovered from a pond and a field in Beldanga area of Murshidabad. A team of bomb disposal squadimmediately reached the spot along with the local Police to neutralise the bombs.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury moves Calcutta HC over panchayat poll violence seeking probe, compensation for victims

The Calcutta High Court on Monday allowed senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to file a petition seeking compensation to victims of panchayat poll violence in West Bengal and an investigation into it by an independent agency.

Submitting personally before the bench presided by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, Chowdhury, the state Congress president, alleged that entire West Bengal was ravaged by unprecedented violence during the elections held on July 8.

Claiming that most of the deceased belonged to the poor, vulnerable and underprivileged sections of society, he prayed before the court that the next of kin of the deceased and the injured be given monetary compensation.(PTI)

Under Amit Shah's command, BSF has become tool for perpetuating fear, says TMC

The Trinamool Congress on Monday attacked Home Minister Amit Shah over violence in the state amid panchayat elections.

"UnderAmit Shah's command, the BSF has become a tool for perpetuating fear and suppressing people's voice. The Home Minister's hands are stained with the blood of our fellow citizens," the party said.

In some booths, voting started late as ballot boxes did not reach on time

Voting started late in a few booths as ballot boxes did not reach on time, officials said. These booths will be given extra time to complete the polling, they said.

10.9% voter turnout was recorded till 11 am, no major incident reported

No major incident was reported as fresh polling was underway on Monday at 696 booths in 19 districts of West Bengal where voting for the panchayat elections was declared void, officials said.

The repolling was ordered by the State Election Commission on Sunday evening amid allegations of tampering with ballot boxes and the violence that left 15 people dead, they said.

The repolling started at 7 am amid tight security with four central forces personnel deployed in each booth, besides state police. Till 11 am, 10.9 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will meet West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose today evening at North Block, reported news agency ANI.

Won't let State Election Commission get away with their daylight robbery, says BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari

"The West Bengal State BJP provided the details of more than 6000 booths where either the CCTV cameras were not installed or malfunctioning or there would be clear evidence of false polling captured by the CCTV cameras. We demanded a repoll in all such booths. The State Election Commission is conducting Repoll in only 696 Booths across the State. It's a complete sham and wilful contempt of the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court's Order," BJP leaderSuvendu Adhikari said.

Meanwhile, TMC has announced its candidatures for upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

Watch | TMC councilor beaten by group of men in Tamluk

Tamluk town president and TMC councilor Chanchal Kumar Khanra was beaten by a group of men in Tamluk in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district on Sunday.

Disclaimer: Disturbing visuals, viewer discretion is advised.

Polling was held on Saturday in over 61,000 booths for the three-tier panchayat elections. In several places, ballot boxes were looted, set on fire and thrown in ponds, leading to violence.

Among the districts where repolling was being held, violence-hit Murshidabad has the highest number of booths at 175, followed by Malda with 109.

Trinamool has alleged an attack on Tamluk town president Chanchal Khanra by miscreants with allegiance to the BJP.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writes to BSF official for increased deployment of forces

Congressleader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to a BSF officialon increased deployment of forces during re-polling in panchayat elections in the state. "During Panchayet Election on 8th July 2023, 19 people have killed, many othersare hospitalized and hundreds were injured by goons/ members/ supporters of rulingparty. Please deploy adequate forces under your command with proper directive to prevent recurrence similar occurrence on re- polling date on 10.07.2023,"Chowdhury wrote.

Voters queue up outside a polling booth in Jalpaiguri amid rainfall

We have enough forces deployed today, says SDPO outside South 24 Parganas polling booth

Outside a polling booth in South 24 Parganas, SDPO Canning Dibakar Das said, "There are proper arrangements. Punjab Police gave us 10 Constables and an officer, and so did West Bengal Police. I too have a reserve of 52 Constables and two officers with me... We have enough deployment today and voters are already lining up. Polling has already started..."

Bengal panchayat elections: Repolling begins in 696 booths across 19 districts

Repolling began at 7 am on Monday in 696 booths across 19 districts of West Bengal where voting for the panchayat elections wasdeclared voidamid allegations of tampering with ballot boxes and the violence that left 15 people dead, officials said.

The repolling will be held till 5 pm amid tight security with four central forces personnel deployed in each of those booths, besides state police, they said.

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Re-polling for the 2023 West Bengal Panchayat elections to be held

Voters queue up outside a polling booth in Murshidabad district