Bengal reported 70.17 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm in the first phase of the 2021 Assembly election. Assam, which also began voting today, reported 62 per cent turnout till the same time. Voting for the first phase of elections in the two states began this morning - for 30 and 47 seats respectively. In Bengal the Trinamool faces a stern test from the BJP (and a lesser one from the Congress-Left alliance) in its bid for a third straight term. In Assam the BJP is hoping to win a second straight term, with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal the biggest name on the ballot today.
