'Historic hat-trick of victories': PM Modi hails 'fearless voting in Bengal'

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the high voter turn out in the second phase of West Bengal assembly elections and said that this time voter are casting their votes in a "fearless atmosphere."While inaugurating the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister said that the assembly results on May 4 will further strengthen the resolve of a developed India. "It is a significant day in the festival of democracy. Polling for the second phase of elections is underway in Bengal. According to reports, Bengal is witnessing high voter turnout. Just like in the first phase, people are coming out of their homes in large numbers to cast their votes, and images of long queues are all over social media," PM Modi said."Voting is taking place in Bengal this time in a fearless atmosphere, something that was previously difficult even to imagine. This is a symbol of the strengthening of the Constitution and democracy in India. I express my gratitude to the people of Bengal for being so vigilant about their rights and voting in large numbers," he added.Noting the BJP-NDA's recent poll victories in the Bihar assembly elections and local body polls in Gujarat, PM Modi expressed confidence in a hat-trick of wins for the party.PM Modi said, "Some time ago, when elections were held in Bihar, the BJP-NDA had registered a resounding victory, creating history. Just yesterday, the results of the elections for Gujarat's municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats, nagar panchayats, and tehsil panchayats were declared. The BJP has won 80 to 85 per cent of the municipalities and panchayats.""I am confident that in the elections in these five states as well, the BJP is going to complete a historic hat-trick of victories. The results of May 4 will strengthen the resolve for a developed India. They will infuse new energy into the pace of the country's development," the Prime Minister added.Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 61.11 per cent till 1 pm as polling is underway for 142 Assembly seats in the second phase of the state elections. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Hooghly topped the districts with a turnout of 64.57 per cent, followed by Howrah at 60.68 per cent.Kolkata North recorded 60.18 per cent polling, while Kolkata South registered 57.73 per cent turnout during the same period. Nadia also saw a significant participation, recording a voter turnout of 61.41 per cent till 1 pm.The second phase of the polling is widely seen as the 'litmus test' for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), as voting moves into the party's traditional fortresses in South Bengal and Kolkata.The second phase covers 142 out of 294 seats in West Bengal. The total electorate is around 3.21 crore, with 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 transgender voters.1,448 candidates are in the fray, including 220 women at 41,001 polling stations, with over 8,000 managed entirely by women.In the 2021 elections, the TMC dominated this specific belt, winning 123 of these 142 seats. For the BJP, this phase is about making inroads into the urban "bhadralok" vote and the Matua community. For the TMC, it is about holding the line to ensure a fourth consecutive term for Mamata Banerjee.The counting of votes will take place on May 4.