West Bengal election results 2019 highlights: With 18 seats and 40% vote share, BJP snaps at TMC heels in Bengal

A clear picture seems to be emerging from the trends in 42 seats in West Bengal. BJP has indeed made deep inroads, while the Left stares at a complete rout. Catch all live updates here on TOI

06:32 (IST) May 23

Missing EC nodal officer found in Howrah

A nodal officer of the Election Commission who had gone missing from Krishnanagar,was found in a house in Howrah by the West Bengal CID seven days later. The 30-year-old officer was in-charge of EVMs and VVPATs for the Ranaghat parliamentary constituency. He was posted in Krishnanagar.

06:31 (IST) May 23

Bengal BJP leader attracted a 48-hr ban over sexually coloured remarks

The Election Commission barred Bengal BJP leader Mahadev Sarkar from campaigning for 48 hours, after finding him guilty of violating the model code of conduct with his personal remarks against state MLA and TMC candidate from Krishnanagar parliamentary constituency, Mahua Moitra.

06:30 (IST) May 23

Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed told to leave India after poll show

Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed left Kolkata after getting notices from both the union ministry of home affairs and the Bangladesh deputy high commission following a controversy over his campaigning for a TMC candidate. Bangladesh deputy high commission officials said the visa allocated to Ahmed did not allow him to participate in political campaigns and so he was asked to leave India.

06:30 (IST) May 23

Mamata accused central forces of canvassing votes for BJP

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the neutrality of the central forces and alleged that in several booths in Englishbazar (Malda Dakshin) and one in Itahar (Balurghat), they were seen urging people to vote for BJP. They even entered polling some booths which was illegal, she had alleged.

06:29 (IST) May 23

Situation in Bengal like Bihar 15 years ago, said special election observer

EC special observer, Ajay V Nayak said the situation in West Bengal is similar to what it was in Bihar around 10 to 15 years ago and had lead to the voters' demand for deployment of central forces for the Lok Sabha elections. The ruling TMC had demanded his immediate removal, claiming that Nayak has allegiance to the RSS and the BJP and is acting as per their orders.

06:28 (IST) May 23

West Bengal has seen the most violence this Lok Sabha election

No phase passed off without incidents in West Bengal this Lok Sabha elections. Stray violence and skirmishes between rival parties were reported during each phase. It got only uglier as the elections moved south, to the ruling Trinamool's strongholds. This, in a way justified the Election Commission's decision to stagger polls in the state over 7 phases. As expected, rival parties blamed each other for the unrest.