Bengal records 86.11 per cent turnout in Phase 2

In West Bengal, second phase recorded high percentage of voting. Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 86.11% in the second phase of polling held in 30 assembly constituencies spread across four districts.An updated figure was released by CEO Aarif Aftab on Friday.The Nandigram constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been locked in a fight with protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, polled 88.01% votes, the CEO said. Among the four districts, the highest voter turnout of 87.42% was registered in Purba Medinipur, followed by Bankura (86.98%), South 24 Parganas (86.74%), and Paschim Medinipur (83.84%).

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Friday barred Assam minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning for 48 hours with immediate effect for allegedly making threatening remarks against Bodoland People's Front chief Hagrama Mohilary. The Congress had approached the EC demanding action against Himanta Biswa Sarma for his remark that Hagrama Mohilary would be sent to jail through central probe agency NIA if he does "extremism" with rebel leader M Batha. The Bodoland People's Front is an ally of the Congress in Assam. It was previously with the BJP. According to reports Biswa Sarma has challenged the Election Commission's order in the Gauhati High Court.