Amid Covid crisis, Bengal casts vote in penultimate poll round

Voters stand in a queue outside a booth during the 7th phase of Bengal assembly elections in Kolkata on Monday. (Express Photo)

Voting for the penultimate phase is being held at 12,068 polling stations. At least 796 companies of central forces have been deployed. (Express Photo)

A security person urges a voter to stand in the marked area during polling for the 7th phase of West Bengal State Assembly Elections in Kolkata, Monday, April 26. Due to the grim Covid situation, the state election commission has instructed all stakeholders, including the state police, central forces and polling officers, to adhere to “Covid-appropriate behaviour” at all costs. (PTI Photo)

A voter undergoes thermal screening at a polling booth during the 7th phase of West Bengal State Assembly polls at a polling station in Kolkata, Monday, April 26, 2021. (PTI Photo)

CM Mamata Banerjee after casting her vote, outside a polling booth in South Kolkata. (Express Photo)

People show their voter ID cards as they stand in a queue at a polling station during the 7th phase of West Bengal State Assembly Elections in Kolkata, Monday, April 26, 2021. (PTI Photo)

Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty introduces party candidate Anirban Ganguly of Bolpur assembly constituency to the public ahead of the last phase of Assembly elections at Nachansa in Birbhum district of West Bengal, Monday, April 26. (PTI Photo)

A nun of Missionaries of charity shows her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote during the 7th phase of State Assembly polls at a polling station in Kolkata, Monday, April 26. (PTI Photo)

TMC MP Nusrat Jahan (R) with her mother shows her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote at a polling station, in Kolkata. (Photo: PTI)

TMC MP Abhisekh Banerjee flashes victory sign after casting his vote at a polling station in Kolkata. (PTI Photo)

Voters wait in queues to cast votes at a polling station during the 7th phase of West Bengal Assembly elections at a village near Balurghat in South Dinajpur district on Monday. (PTI Photo)

Women wait in line to cast their votes at a polling station during the seventh phase of West Bengal state election. (REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri)