Decision 2021: Bengal, Assam vote in big numbers

Voting is being held in a total of 77 seats — 47 in Assam and 30 in West Bengal——in the first phase of polling for the 2021 Assembly elections. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Till 5 pm, West Bengal recorded nearly 80% voter turnout and Assam registered 72% turnout in the first phase of polling for the assembly elections.(Express photo by Partha Paul)

In West Bengal, polling is being held amid tight security with the Election Commission deploying around 730 companies of central forces, guarding 10,288 polling booths housed in 7,061 premises. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Voters stand in a queue at Kudna primary school polling booth in Ayodhya Hill,Purulia on the first phase of West Bengal Assembly election 2021, on Saturday, March 27,2021. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

More than 73 lakh voters will decide the fate of 91 candidates who are in the fray from the 30 assembly constituencies, most of which comprise the once-Naxal-affected Jungle Mahal region in the first of the total eight-phase elections.(Express photo by Partha Paul)

In Phase 1, polling took place maintaining strict Covid-19 protocols in all nine seats in Purulia, four in Bankura, four in Jhargram, six in Paschim Medinipur, and the seven seats in Purba Medinipur –– the home ground of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.(Express photo by Partha Paul)

The TMC and BJP have fielded candidates in 29 seats each, while the Left-Congress-ISF alliance has put up candidates in all 30 seats. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

In 2016, TMC had won 27 out of 30 seats while two were bagged by Congress and one by RSP. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Polling in the remaining seven phases in Bengal will take place on April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29. Results will be declared on May 2. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Queues of voters waiting to vote at Pardi primary school polling booth in Ayodhya Hill Purulia on the first phase of West Bengal Assembly election 2021, on Saturday, March 27,2021. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Polling at Kaliabhumura booth. (Twitter/@ceo_assam)

A look at Sivasagar Election District's Model Polling Station. (Twitter/@ceo_assam)

A total of 264 candidates, including 23 women, are in the fray for the 47 constituencies going to polls on Saturday amid strict security and COVID protocols. (Twitter/@ceo_assam)

Citizens arrive to cast their vote on Phase I Polling Day at Nazira election district. (Twitter/@ceo_assam)

A total of 300 companies of security forces have been deployed in the first phase in Assam, in which voting will take place at 11,537 polling stations across 12 districts of Upper Assam and the Northern Bank of Brahmaputra.(Twitter/@ceo_assam)