Voter turnout recorded till 3 pm: Bihar- 36.20%, Himachal Pradesh- 45.38%, Madhya Pradesh- 46.51%, Punjab- 40.41%, Uttar Pradesh- 38.01%, West Bengal- 51.83%, Chandigarh- 37.50 and Jharkhand has recorded voter turnout of 55.88%. Watch this video to know more.

Voter turnout till 3 pm: Bihar- 36.20%, Madhya Pradesh- 46.51%, Uttar Pradesh- 38.01%

Polling is being held in all 13 seats in Punjab and 13 in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, four in Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand and the lone seat in Chandigarh. Watch this video to know more.

India Votes: 13 seats in Punjab go to polls

Voters protested against BJP Kolkata candidate Rahul Sinha. "They pelted stones, I was the target, a journalist ended up getting hurt. EC has been informed. They are more people from outside that the actual number of voters," he said. Watch this video to know more.

India Vote: Ruckus during polling in Kolkata constituencies

With voting underway for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/live-lok-sabha-polls-2019-phase-7-voting-begins-in-chandigarh-and-7-states-219713">Seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections</a>, large scale violence is being reported from different parliamentary constituencies of the state.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-violence-mars-polling-at-raiganj-chopra-211421">West Bengal, witnessed clashes</a> on Sunday too with Trinamool and BJP blaming each other for violence.

While vehicles of few leaders were vandalised in poll-related violence, BJP has also accused TMC of beating its office-bearers.

BJP MP candidate from Jadavpur, Anupam Hazra told ANI that the Mandal president of his party was beaten by 'goons'&nbsp;of TMC.

"TMC goons have beaten up a BJP Mandal president, a driver and attacked a car. We also rescued our three polling agents. TMC goons were going to carry out rigging at 52 booths. People are eager to vote for BJP but they are not allowing people to vote", he said.

Earlier while visiting polling booth number 150/137 in Jadavpur, he had also objected to women covering their faces while voting and said, "Women TMC workers with covered faces are casting proxy votes, it is difficult to establish their identity. When we raised an objection to it, they created a ruckus at the polling station."

BJP candidate for Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, Nilanjan Roy`s car was also vandalised in Dongaria area of the constituency on Saturday.

Voters in Basirhat and Jadavpurhave alleged that TMC workers are disrupting the election process by not allowing them to vote.

A protest was held by voters outside booth number 189 in Basirhat.

"We are not being allowed to vote by TMC goons. We went to Police for complaining against them, but TMC supporters stopped us midway and started beating us," a protestor said.

BJP`s Lok Sabha candidate from Basirhat, Sayantan Basu was also present at the spot.

"100 people were stopped from voting. We will take them to cast their vote," he said.

Party's candidate from Basirhat also alleged of the poll process being hindered by TMC workers and demanded the additional presence of Central forces.

Similarly, in Jadavpur, there were disturbances in the polling process at booth number 150 and 137.

Discontent over the poll process was not limited to BJP but CPI also complaint of high-handedness by TMC workers.CPI candidate Pallab Sengupta on Sunday registered 142 complaints against TMC workers. In his complaint, he had asserted that TMC workers were pressurizing voters to vote for their party`s candidate.West Bengal voted across all the seven phases of national polls, today being the last one.

All the earlier phases have witnessed poll violence with TMC and BJP trading blame over the issue. Nine seats in the state are voting today.Sunday marks the end of the seven-phase polling in the country with a total of 59 parliamentary constituencies voting today.

The counting of votes would take place on May 23.

With voting underway for the Seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections, large scale violence is being reported from different parliamentary constituencies of the state.

With voting underway for the Seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections, large scale violence is being reported from different parliamentary constituencies of the state. West Bengal, witnessed clashes on Sunday too with Trinamool and BJP blaming each other for violence. While vehicles of few leaders were vandalised in poll-related violence, BJP has also accused TMC of beating its office-bearers. BJP MP candidate from Jadavpur, Anupam Hazra told ANI that the Mandal president of his party was beaten by 'goons' of TMC. "TMC goons have beaten up a BJP Mandal president, a driver and attacked a car. We also rescued our three polling agents. TMC goons were going to carry out rigging at 52 booths. People are eager to vote for BJP but they are not allowing people to vote", he said. Earlier while visiting polling booth number 150/137 in Jadavpur, he had also objected to women covering their faces while voting and said, "Women TMC workers with covered faces are casting proxy votes, it is difficult to establish their identity. When we raised an objection to it, they created a ruckus at the polling station." BJP candidate for Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, Nilanjan Roy`s car was also vandalised in Dongaria area of the constituency on Saturday. Voters in Basirhat and Jadavpurhave alleged that TMC workers are disrupting the election process by not allowing them to vote. A protest was held by voters outside booth number 189 in Basirhat. "We are not being allowed to vote by TMC goons. We went to Police for complaining against them, but TMC supporters stopped us midway and started beating us," a protestor said. BJP`s Lok Sabha candidate from Basirhat, Sayantan Basu was also present at the spot. "100 people were stopped from voting. We will take them to cast their vote," he said. Party's candidate from Basirhat also alleged of the poll process being hindered by TMC workers and demanded the additional presence of Central forces. Similarly, in Jadavpur, there were disturbances in the polling process at booth number 150 and 137. Discontent over the poll process was not limited to BJP but CPI also complaint of high-handedness by TMC workers.CPI candidate Pallab Sengupta on Sunday registered 142 complaints against TMC workers. In his complaint, he had asserted that TMC workers were pressurizing voters to vote for their party`s candidate.West Bengal voted across all the seven phases of national polls, today being the last one. All the earlier phases have witnessed poll violence with TMC and BJP trading blame over the issue. Nine seats in the state are voting today.Sunday marks the end of the seven-phase polling in the country with a total of 59 parliamentary constituencies voting today. The counting of votes would take place on May 23.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Violence mar polls in West Bengal; BJP and CPI accuse Trinamool Congress of creating ruckus

Voter turnout recorded till 10 am: Bihar-10.65%, Madhya Pradesh-13.17%, Punjab-9.84%, Uttar Pradesh-9.67%, West Bengal- 14.22% and Jharkhand has recorded voter turnout of 15%. Watch full video to know more.

Voter turnout till 10 am: Bihar-10.65%, Madhya Pradesh-13.17%, West Bengal- 14.22%

Voter turnout till 1:45 PM: Uttar Pradesh- 37 %, West Bengal- 49.79%, Jharkhand 52.89%. Watch the latest updates for the last phase polling.

Voter turnout till 1:45 PM: Uttar Pradesh- 37 %, West Bengal- 49.79%, Jharkhand 52.89%

Preparations are in place for the seventh and final phase of the general elections in West Bengal, where nine Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls on Sunday.

An electorate of 1,49,63,064 will decide the fate of 111 candidates in these nine seats -- Kolkata North and Kolkata South, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Jaynagar (SC) and Mathurapur (SC).

Eight seats, barring Jadavpur, will witness a four- cornered contest between the Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the Congress and the Left Front.

The Congress has given the Jadavpur seat a miss.

Sitting MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is the nephew of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and considered the number two in the party, is seeking re-election from the Diamond Harbour seat, where he is pitted against BJP's Nilanjan Roy.

The CPI(M) has nominated Fuad Halim and the Congress Soumya Aich Roy for the seat.

In the Jadavpur seat, TMC's celebrity candidate Mimi Chakraborty will contest against Anupam Hazra of the BJP.

The CPI(M) has fielded senior leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.

Basirhat Lok Sabha seat will see another star TMC candidate Nusrat Jahan locking horns with BJP's Sayantan Basu.

The Congress has nominated Quazi Abdur Rahim and the Left Front constituent CPI, Pallab Sengupta.

In the Dum Dum seat, the BJP has fielded Samik Bhattacharya against sitting TMC MP Saugata Ray. Left Front major CPI(M) has nominated Nepaldeb Bhattacharya, while the Congress announced the name of Saurav Saha.

TMC MP Kakoli Ghoshdastidar is contesting against BJP's Mrinal Kanti Debnath in Barasat, where the Congress has nominated Subrata Dutta and Left Front Constituent All India Forward Bloc, Haripada Biswas.

In the Jaynagar (SC) seat, TMC's Pratima Mondal will contest against Ashok Kandary of the BJP. The Congress has fielded Tapan Mondal and Left Front constituent RSP, Subhas Naskar.

Choudhury Mohan Jatua is the TMC candidate from the Mathurapur (SC) constituency against BJP's Shyama Prasad Halder. The Congress has named Krittibas Sardar and the CPI(M) fielded Sarat Chandra Haldar for the seat.

Kolkata South will witness Mala Roy of the TMC battling it out against BJP's Chandra Kumar Bose. The CPI(M) has nominated Nandini Mukherjee and the Congress Mita Chakraborty.

In Kolkata North, Sudip Bandyopadhyay will contest against Rahul Sinha, the BJP national secretary. The CPI(M) has fielded Kaninika Bose and the Congress, Syed Shahid Imam.

A total of 710 companies of central forces are being deployed by the Election Commission to cover 17,042 polling booths to ensure free and fair voting, officials said.

The nine constituencies are spread across the three districts of Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas.

The high-voltage campaign for the final phase saw poll meetings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress leader Sachin Pilot and West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.

The prime minister held four poll meetings on the last two days of the campaign, while Banerjee took part in several road shows at different places in the metropolis in the run-up to this phase.

Shah's roadshow in the city on Tuesday was marred by violence and destruction of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's bust in a college in north Kolkata.

In a first such action in India's electoral history, the Election Commission ordered campaigning in the nine West Bengal constituencies to end at 10 pm on Thursday, instead of 6 pm on Friday, in the wake of the violence between the BJP and the TMC during Shah's roadshow.

Besides general election observers and expenditure observers, the poll panel has for the first time deployed a special police observer and a special observer.

VVPAT will be also be used in all the polling booths along with the EVMs, EC officials said

Preparations are in place for the seventh and final phase of the general elections in West Bengal, where nine Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls on Sunday.

Preparations are in place for the seventh and final phase of the general elections in West Bengal, where nine Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls on Sunday. An electorate of 1,49,63,064 will decide the fate of 111 candidates in these nine seats -- Kolkata North and Kolkata South, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Jaynagar (SC) and Mathurapur (SC). Eight seats, barring Jadavpur, will witness a four- cornered contest between the Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the Congress and the Left Front. The Congress has given the Jadavpur seat a miss. Sitting MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is the nephew of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and considered the number two in the party, is seeking re-election from the Diamond Harbour seat, where he is pitted against BJP's Nilanjan Roy. The CPI(M) has nominated Fuad Halim and the Congress Soumya Aich Roy for the seat. In the Jadavpur seat, TMC's celebrity candidate Mimi Chakraborty will contest against Anupam Hazra of the BJP. The CPI(M) has fielded senior leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya. Basirhat Lok Sabha seat will see another star TMC candidate Nusrat Jahan locking horns with BJP's Sayantan Basu. The Congress has nominated Quazi Abdur Rahim and the Left Front constituent CPI, Pallab Sengupta. In the Dum Dum seat, the BJP has fielded Samik Bhattacharya against sitting TMC MP Saugata Ray. Left Front major CPI(M) has nominated Nepaldeb Bhattacharya, while the Congress announced the name of Saurav Saha. TMC MP Kakoli Ghoshdastidar is contesting against BJP's Mrinal Kanti Debnath in Barasat, where the Congress has nominated Subrata Dutta and Left Front Constituent All India Forward Bloc, Haripada Biswas. In the Jaynagar (SC) seat, TMC's Pratima Mondal will contest against Ashok Kandary of the BJP. The Congress has fielded Tapan Mondal and Left Front constituent RSP, Subhas Naskar. Choudhury Mohan Jatua is the TMC candidate from the Mathurapur (SC) constituency against BJP's Shyama Prasad Halder. The Congress has named Krittibas Sardar and the CPI(M) fielded Sarat Chandra Haldar for the seat. Kolkata South will witness Mala Roy of the TMC battling it out against BJP's Chandra Kumar Bose. The CPI(M) has nominated Nandini Mukherjee and the Congress Mita Chakraborty. In Kolkata North, Sudip Bandyopadhyay will contest against Rahul Sinha, the BJP national secretary. The CPI(M) has fielded Kaninika Bose and the Congress, Syed Shahid Imam. A total of 710 companies of central forces are being deployed by the Election Commission to cover 17,042 polling booths to ensure free and fair voting, officials said. The nine constituencies are spread across the three districts of Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas. The high-voltage campaign for the final phase saw poll meetings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress leader Sachin Pilot and West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. The prime minister held four poll meetings on the last two days of the campaign, while Banerjee took part in several road shows at different places in the metropolis in the run-up to this phase. Shah's roadshow in the city on Tuesday was marred by violence and destruction of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's bust in a college in north Kolkata. In a first such action in India's electoral history, the Election Commission ordered campaigning in the nine West Bengal constituencies to end at 10 pm on Thursday, instead of 6 pm on Friday, in the wake of the violence between the BJP and the TMC during Shah's roadshow. Besides general election observers and expenditure observers, the poll panel has for the first time deployed a special police observer and a special observer. VVPAT will be also be used in all the polling booths along with the EVMs, EC officials said

Nine Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal to go to polls in seventh phase

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday wrote to the Election Commission to ensure "peaceful and impartial" elections in the state without the interference of the BJP.

The EC should ensure that Sunday's polling is held without the "undue interference of the central government" and any "intervention by the ruling party at the Centre", Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister said.

"In the final phase of the election tomorrow, I would request your good office to kindly ensure that election is completed peacefully, impartially and without any undue interference of the Central government and any intervention by the ruling party at the centre," Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

She also requested the poll body to "protect democratic institutions and federal structure of the country and extend due respect to the opposition parties".&nbsp;

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday wrote to the Election Commission to ensure "peaceful and impartial" elections in the state without the interference of the BJP.

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday wrote to the Election Commission to ensure "peaceful and impartial" elections in the state without the interference of the BJP. The EC should ensure that Sunday's polling is held without the "undue interference of the central government" and any "intervention by the ruling party at the Centre", Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister said. "In the final phase of the election tomorrow, I would request your good office to kindly ensure that election is completed peacefully, impartially and without any undue interference of the Central government and any intervention by the ruling party at the centre," Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. She also requested the poll body to "protect democratic institutions and federal structure of the country and extend due respect to the opposition parties".

Mamata Banerjee asks EC to ensure peaceful and impartial voting in West Bengal in last phase

In PM Modi's attire in Kedarnath, message to Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke exclusively to Zee Media on West Bengal violence, the overall election scenario and BJP's chances in the polls.

Watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi exclusive conversation with Zee Media

Watch 'India Election Watch.' This is the show that brings you the latest on world's biggest electoral exercise, Verified updates & Unbiased analysis.

India Election Watch; 17th May, 2019

Campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls will come to end on Friday evening.

The last phase of the 2019 general elections is scheduled for May 19.

Around 59&nbsp;constituencies spread over seven states and one union territory will go to polls on the day.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/campaigning-ends-for-seventh-phase-of-lok-sabha-polls-in-bengal-219236">election campaigning for the West Bengal </a>state was ended a day before, on Thursday night at around 10 pm.

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The Election Commission had barred the political parties in West Bengal from campaigning in the nine constituencies of the state on a day ahead of the scheduled closing.&nbsp;

The EC took the decision by invoking the Constitution's Article 324 for the first time&nbsp;in the wake of violence between the BJP and the TMC in the city during Amit Shah's roadshow.

(With inputs from agencies)

Campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls will come to end on Friday evening. The last phase of the 2019 general elections is scheduled for May 19.

Campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls will come to end on Friday evening. The last phase of the 2019 general elections is scheduled for May 19. Around 59 constituencies spread over seven states and one union territory will go to polls on the day. The election campaigning for the West Bengal state was ended a day before, on Thursday night at around 10 pm. × The Election Commission had barred the political parties in West Bengal from campaigning in the nine constituencies of the state on a day ahead of the scheduled closing. The EC took the decision by invoking the Constitution's Article 324 for the first time in the wake of violence between the BJP and the TMC in the city during Amit Shah's roadshow. (With inputs from agencies)

Election campaigning for 2019 Lok Sabha polls to end today

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, May 17th 2019

Today marks the last day of campaigning (except West Bengal) for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha election 2019, political parties across the country will leave no stone unturned in their attempts to woo the voters. Watch this video to know more.

India Votes: Final push by star campaigners

Watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi's exclusive talk to Zee Media. PM Modi speaks on West Bengal violence. He said, Obstacles were posed for every BJP rally in Bengal. Watch video to know more.

PM Modi: Obstacles posed for every BJP rally

As campaigning ended&nbsp;in the Lok Sabha polls, Zee Bangla caught up with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-got-a-sense-that-a-majority-government-will-come-to-power-again-pm-modi-in-joint-press-conference-with-amit-shah-219416">PM Modi for a quick chat</a> on the last leg of the campaign trail in West Bengal to understand his mission in the state, the poll violence which has hit the headlines in the past month and BJP's vision in the 2021 assembly elections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cctv-footage-of-vandalisation-of-ishwar-chandra-vidyasagars-statute-should-be-released-pm-modi-219213">Also Watch:&nbsp;CCTV footage of vandalisation of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue should be released, says&nbsp;PM Modi</a>

Q: You have undertaken seventeen rallies in West Bengal which has been unprecedented for an Indian prime minister. What was your aim?

A:&nbsp;When the people of this country gives us a task, they don't&nbsp;give us to sit in Delhi and enjoy ourselves. As the country's prime minister&nbsp;it is my responsibility to visit all parts of the country and meet the people, it is part of my job. You would have seen since 2014, not a single Friday, Saturday or Sunday has gone by when I haven't visited some part of the country.

I am a man of the people and I like interacting with the people, this is the reason I came here. Secondly, my other idea was to thank the people of this country because for five years this country cooperated with me, they gave me their love and confidence, so it was obvious lakhs of people would meet me.

I have enjoyed a special relationship with West Bengal. In the beginning of my life, the Ram Krishna mission played a big role, so obviously, I like coming here and taking inspiration from the great people of the state. The people of the state give me strength.

Q: A lot of BJP workers have complained about pre-poll and post-poll violence, although they have complained to the Election Commission but for you and the BJP how difficult has it been for you to campaign here?

A: The question is not the BJP or no BJP, it is the fear of defeat which is driving the TMC.&nbsp;The TMC, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and those close to her are so fearful that they have lost their balance and made the people of West Bengal their enemy. Now they have started attacking the people of the state. Whatever is happening in Bengal is the battle between the people of the state and the government. The people who are being killed are the kids of Bengal and who is killing them? They belong to the government.&nbsp;

Secondly, this did not just happen during the Lok Sabha elections. During the panchayat polls, the people had to go to the court just to get their nomination. In the panchayat polls,&nbsp;there was widespread violence, those who won the polls their houses were burnt. This undemocratic attitude is a matter of concern for the country.

Q: In all the rallies you have confidently said that BJP is coming back to power. In West Bengal, there will be&nbsp;assembly polls in 2021. Do you have a strategy for West Bengal and also do you have a vision for the state?

A: The entire country needs to be developed, in the western part of India whether it is Maharashtra, Punjab or Goa, the economic activity can be seen. Then you see Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, the north-east, this region has no dearth of natural resources. There are talented people in this region but there is a great deal of poverty. My thinking is that if India needs to be developed than every region needs to be looked at in a balanced way.&nbsp;

The way the western region has developed, we need to bring the eastern region in sync with the western part of the country. This is the only way in which India will become a $5 trillion economy, then we can jump from No-6 position in the world to No-3 in the world. So I have a vision for the entire eastern region.

Kolkata can become the growth hub of the entire country, there is so much strength. However, in the last 40 years, we have destroyed everything. We need to bring back development.&nbsp;

As campaigning ended in the Lok Sabha polls, Zee Bangla caught up with PM Modi for a quick chat on the last leg of the campaign trail in West Bengal to understand his mission in the state, the poll violence which has hit the headlines in the past month and BJP's vision in the 2021 assembly elections.

As campaigning ended in the Lok Sabha polls, Zee Bangla caught up with PM Modi for a quick chat on the last leg of the campaign trail in West Bengal to understand his mission in the state, the poll violence which has hit the headlines in the past month and BJP's vision in the 2021 assembly elections. Also Watch: CCTV footage of vandalisation of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue should be released, says PM Modi Q: You have undertaken seventeen rallies in West Bengal which has been unprecedented for an Indian prime minister. What was your aim? A: When the people of this country gives us a task, they don't give us to sit in Delhi and enjoy ourselves. As the country's prime minister it is my responsibility to visit all parts of the country and meet the people, it is part of my job. You would have seen since 2014, not a single Friday, Saturday or Sunday has gone by when I haven't visited some part of the country. I am a man of the people and I like interacting with the people, this is the reason I came here. Secondly, my other idea was to thank the people of this country because for five years this country cooperated with me, they gave me their love and confidence, so it was obvious lakhs of people would meet me. I have enjoyed a special relationship with West Bengal. In the beginning of my life, the Ram Krishna mission played a big role, so obviously, I like coming here and taking inspiration from the great people of the state. The people of the state give me strength. Q: A lot of BJP workers have complained about pre-poll and post-poll violence, although they have complained to the Election Commission but for you and the BJP how difficult has it been for you to campaign here? A: The question is not the BJP or no BJP, it is the fear of defeat which is driving the TMC. The TMC, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and those close to her are so fearful that they have lost their balance and made the people of West Bengal their enemy. Now they have started attacking the people of the state. Whatever is happening in Bengal is the battle between the people of the state and the government. The people who are being killed are the kids of Bengal and who is killing them? They belong to the government. Secondly, this did not just happen during the Lok Sabha elections. During the panchayat polls, the people had to go to the court just to get their nomination. In the panchayat polls, there was widespread violence, those who won the polls their houses were burnt. This undemocratic attitude is a matter of concern for the country. Q: In all the rallies you have confidently said that BJP is coming back to power. In West Bengal, there will be assembly polls in 2021. Do you have a strategy for West Bengal and also do you have a vision for the state? A: The entire country needs to be developed, in the western part of India whether it is Maharashtra, Punjab or Goa, the economic activity can be seen. Then you see Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, the north-east, this region has no dearth of natural resources. There are talented people in this region but there is a great deal of poverty. My thinking is that if India needs to be developed than every region needs to be looked at in a balanced way. The way the western region has developed, we need to bring the eastern region in sync with the western part of the country. This is the only way in which India will become a $5 trillion economy, then we can jump from No-6 position in the world to No-3 in the world. So I have a vision for the entire eastern region. Kolkata can become the growth hub of the entire country, there is so much strength. However, in the last 40 years, we have destroyed everything. We need to bring back development.

TMC, West Bengal CM and those close to her have lost their balance: PM Modi

India Election Watch; 15th May, 2019

India Election Watch; 16th May, 2019

In this segment of India Election Watch, Know how the Bengal battle is posed 'India Election Watch' is the show that brings you the latest on world's biggest electoral exercise, Verified updates & Unbiased analysis.

India Election Watch: How the Bengal battle is posed

A roadshow of BJP national president Amit Shah was attacked in Kolkata. &nbsp;Priyanka Sharma, an activist of BJP’s youth wing, is arrested in Kolkata for making a meme of Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Journalists are heckled during election coverage in Asansol and the body of an opposition party activist is found hanging from a tree in Midnapore.

These are only some of the many incidents that signal that all is not well with democracy in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal. The ‘Mamata model of politics’, it seems, has no room for opposition, media and free speech.

An Election Commission observer in West Bengal, Ajay Nayak, has said on record that the situation in Bengal is worse than what it was in Bihar 15 years ago. He suggested that more central forces were required in the state to ensure free and fair elections.

Over the last few phases of the general elections, more central forces have been deployed in the state, but with their presence restricted to polling booths. With the state police remaining truculent, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists are on the rampage.&nbsp;

Polling officers — usually state government employees — fear the wrath of the Mamata government if they don’t act in favour of her party.&nbsp;

Several videos have surfaced where TMC activists are seen casting votes under the pretext of helping voters, with the polling officers looking on sheepishly.

Mamata has gone on record saying that she will have her revenge inch-by-inch after the elections. Terrified, helpless and cheated by the current TMC government, the voters are silent. But, masked in their silence, a greater change is afoot. Opposition parties have accused the TMC of giving shelter to anarchist elements and using foul means to garner votes.&nbsp;

The BJP has emerged as the principal opposition party after the panchayat elections and most activists who have bled in the wake of political violence are from the BJP.&nbsp;

A few months ago in the panchayat elections, too, the TMC had created a similar environment of terror. So much so that the high court had to allow opposition candidates to file nomination via email and WhatsApp, as they could not make it to the nomination centres in the wake of violence unleashed by TMC activists.&nbsp;

Opposition candidates, who eventually won the panchayat election, could not return home fearing violence. More than 50 BJP activists lost their lives during these panchayat elections.

This environment of political violence unfolding in Bengal is a legacy of the Left Front government that ruled the state for 34 years and which Mamata had opposed and uprooted.&nbsp;

In 2011, the Mamata government was formed with the slogan of ‘ma, mati, manush’ (mother, motherland, people). At that time Mamata stood for the farmers of Nandigram and Singur, where the CPM-led Left Front had used violence to suppress voices.&nbsp;

Today, Mamata’s line of political thought panders to the state’s nearly 30 per cent Muslim population, of which many are illegal Bangladeshis.&nbsp;

Therefore, it stems from this that in a matriarchal society like Bengal, there were reports of Kali Pooja, Durga Pooja and Saraswati Pooja being stalled to respect the sentiments of a community.&nbsp;

In 2017, Durga idol immersion was stalled for two days by the administration on account of Muharram. Last year, processions on Hanuman Jayanti were stopped and vandalised as the police stood mute witness.

What started with ‘ma, mati, manush’ in 2008-2009 has now clearly been reduced to ‘Mamata, Muslims and Muharram’, with Hindus and their symbols becoming soft targets and Muslim appeasement politics touching a new low.

It is clear Mamata has chosen her politics to garner Muslim support. On several occasions, she has spoken in favour of illegal Bangladeshi migrants too. In the ongoing general elections, Bangladeshi actors were called in to campaign for TMC candidates.&nbsp;

Today, appeasement, extortion and illegal migration have emerged as the most important issues that have left an average Bengali troubled. Ranging from the Bhadralok of Kolkata to the rural population of Midnapore – the disquiet over TMC’s strong arm appeasement, extortion and support of illegal migrants is palpable.&nbsp;

The weakened Congress and the CPM are in no position to offer an alternative to TMC’s politics. As a result, a large section of voters are now looking to BJP for help and support. This was why the BJP won several seats in the Bengal panchayat election.&nbsp;

Instead of countering allegations, Mamata has gone further into the deep end by using the power at her disposal to silence resistance.&nbsp;

Little does she realise that by not allowing the helicopters of Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath to land for political rallies, she’s only validating their claim on the electorate.

Earlier this month, when a group of youth chanted ‘Joy Shri Ram’ (read Jai Shri Ram) as Mamata’s cavalcade passed by, the CM lost her cool. She stopped her vehicle and threatened them with dire consequences.&nbsp;

The events of the last few years have created a background and environment where people are fed up with the Mamata administration and for them, the enchanting of ‘Joy Shri Ram’ has emerged as a slogan of resistance against the Trinamool model of politics where there is no space and scope for other voices.

The land of Aurobindo, Vivekanand, Subhash Bose and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee will not tolerate this.&nbsp;

&nbsp;(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-tmc-the-land-of-holy-terror-2749609">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

A roadshow of BJP national president Amit Shah was attacked in Kolkata. Priyanka Sharma, an activist of BJP’s youth wing, is arrested in Kolkata for making a meme of Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

A roadshow of BJP national president Amit Shah was attacked in Kolkata. Priyanka Sharma, an activist of BJP’s youth wing, is arrested in Kolkata for making a meme of Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Journalists are heckled during election coverage in Asansol and the body of an opposition party activist is found hanging from a tree in Midnapore. These are only some of the many incidents that signal that all is not well with democracy in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal. The ‘Mamata model of politics’, it seems, has no room for opposition, media and free speech. An Election Commission observer in West Bengal, Ajay Nayak, has said on record that the situation in Bengal is worse than what it was in Bihar 15 years ago. He suggested that more central forces were required in the state to ensure free and fair elections. Over the last few phases of the general elections, more central forces have been deployed in the state, but with their presence restricted to polling booths. With the state police remaining truculent, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists are on the rampage. Polling officers — usually state government employees — fear the wrath of the Mamata government if they don’t act in favour of her party. Several videos have surfaced where TMC activists are seen casting votes under the pretext of helping voters, with the polling officers looking on sheepishly. Mamata has gone on record saying that she will have her revenge inch-by-inch after the elections. Terrified, helpless and cheated by the current TMC government, the voters are silent. But, masked in their silence, a greater change is afoot. Opposition parties have accused the TMC of giving shelter to anarchist elements and using foul means to garner votes. The BJP has emerged as the principal opposition party after the panchayat elections and most activists who have bled in the wake of political violence are from the BJP. A few months ago in the panchayat elections, too, the TMC had created a similar environment of terror. So much so that the high court had to allow opposition candidates to file nomination via email and WhatsApp, as they could not make it to the nomination centres in the wake of violence unleashed by TMC activists. Opposition candidates, who eventually won the panchayat election, could not return home fearing violence. More than 50 BJP activists lost their lives during these panchayat elections. This environment of political violence unfolding in Bengal is a legacy of the Left Front government that ruled the state for 34 years and which Mamata had opposed and uprooted. In 2011, the Mamata government was formed with the slogan of ‘ma, mati, manush’ (mother, motherland, people). At that time Mamata stood for the farmers of Nandigram and Singur, where the CPM-led Left Front had used violence to suppress voices. Today, Mamata’s line of political thought panders to the state’s nearly 30 per cent Muslim population, of which many are illegal Bangladeshis. Therefore, it stems from this that in a matriarchal society like Bengal, there were reports of Kali Pooja, Durga Pooja and Saraswati Pooja being stalled to respect the sentiments of a community. In 2017, Durga idol immersion was stalled for two days by the administration on account of Muharram. Last year, processions on Hanuman Jayanti were stopped and vandalised as the police stood mute witness. What started with ‘ma, mati, manush’ in 2008-2009 has now clearly been reduced to ‘Mamata, Muslims and Muharram’, with Hindus and their symbols becoming soft targets and Muslim appeasement politics touching a new low. It is clear Mamata has chosen her politics to garner Muslim support. On several occasions, she has spoken in favour of illegal Bangladeshi migrants too. In the ongoing general elections, Bangladeshi actors were called in to campaign for TMC candidates. Today, appeasement, extortion and illegal migration have emerged as the most important issues that have left an average Bengali troubled. Ranging from the Bhadralok of Kolkata to the rural population of Midnapore – the disquiet over TMC’s strong arm appeasement, extortion and support of illegal migrants is palpable. The weakened Congress and the CPM are in no position to offer an alternative to TMC’s politics. As a result, a large section of voters are now looking to BJP for help and support. This was why the BJP won several seats in the Bengal panchayat election. Instead of countering allegations, Mamata has gone further into the deep end by using the power at her disposal to silence resistance. Little does she realise that by not allowing the helicopters of Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath to land for political rallies, she’s only validating their claim on the electorate. Earlier this month, when a group of youth chanted ‘Joy Shri Ram’ (read Jai Shri Ram) as Mamata’s cavalcade passed by, the CM lost her cool. She stopped her vehicle and threatened them with dire consequences. The events of the last few years have created a background and environment where people are fed up with the Mamata administration and for them, the enchanting of ‘Joy Shri Ram’ has emerged as a slogan of resistance against the Trinamool model of politics where there is no space and scope for other voices. The land of Aurobindo, Vivekanand, Subhash Bose and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee will not tolerate this. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

‘Mamata model of politics’ has no room for opposition and free speech

Day after brazen vandalism took place on the streets of Kolkata during Amit Shah's rally where even Vidyasagar's statue was not spared, Election Commission has cracked the whip. In a press conference the EC has curtailed the campaigning time in West Bengal for one day. Watch this video to know more.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: EC curtails campaigning in West Bengal

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, May 16th 2019

In this segment of India Election Watch, Know The story of Vidyasagar. Watch this video to know more.

India Election Watch: The story of Vidyasagar

On Monday, the government had withheld landing permission for Amit Shah's chopper and withdrew permission for one of his three rallies. "I'm going to West Bengal for rally in Dum Dum. Let us see if Didi allows it. If she has her way, she will not allow my helicopter to land," the Prime Minister said.

IEW: PM Modi takes on 'DIDI' in her backyard

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