Kolkata, April 17 (IANS) Brisk polling much on the line of the other phases was recorded in the fifth phase of polling in West Bengal where 45 constituencies across six districts including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Aklimpong, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and East Burdwan are going for the polls on Saturday. Altogether 1,13,73,307 voters will exercise their franchise in 15,789 polling stations spread across six districts.

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) The Election Commission has made record seizures of cash and goods worth over Rs 1,000 crore for the first time in any Assembly polls, during the March-April polls in four states and a Union Territory.

Kolkata, April 16 (IANS) Considering the steep rise of Covid cases in the state, the Election Commission(EC) has restricted all parties from conducting any kind of political rallies, meetings and political gatherings between 7 pm and 10 am during the days of campaign from Friday onwards.

Chennai, April 16 (IANS) The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M.K.Stalin on Friday complained to the Election Commission of India about the movement of suspicious vehicles and Wi-Fi during that time inside the campuses where the electronic voting machines (EVM) used in the poll are stored.

Kochi, April 16 (IANS) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday suffered a setback after the Kerala High Court quashed the two FIRs registered against Enforcement Directorate officials by the Crime Branch unit of Kerala police in the gold smuggling case.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 16 (IANS) Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's dream of taking Kerala to the development status of the Nordic countries is yet to materialise, had it been so, then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would have been subjected to a heavy fine, similar to what happened to the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg.

Kolkata, April 15 (IANS) A day before the all-party meeting convened by state Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab on maintaining the Covid protocols during the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress on Thursday proposed to club the last three phases of polls scheduled on April 22, 26 and 29.

Kolkata, April 15 (IANS) After Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission on Thursday barred West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh from campaigning for 24 hours, charging him with making "provocative" public statements that can "seriously incite" emotions and lead to "breakdown" of law and order affecting the Assembly election process in the state.

Belagavi (Karnataka), April 15 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday returned to Bengaluru, ending his campaigning for the Belgaum Lok Sabha bypolls, as he is suffering from fever and exhaustion.

Siliguri/New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) The Congress may find it tough to retain its last tally in the fifth phase of the polling in West Bengal where the party is contesting on 12 seats and has 3 sitting MLAs including a second term MLA in Naxalbari, said sources.

Kolkata, April 15 (IANS) Murshidabad's Congress candidate Rezaul Haque died of Covid-19 at a private hospital here on Thursday morning.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 15 (IANS) A day after reports surfaced that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has violated Covid protocols, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan on Thursday asked for a case to be registered against Vijayan.

Chennai, April 15 (IANS) DMK President and party's Chief Ministerial candidate M.K. Stalin has come down heavily against the BJP government at the Centre and the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular on the second Covid surge in the country.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 15 (IANS) With May 2, the day of judgement for the political parties in Kerala fast approaching and a week after the crucial voting for the 140-member Assembly, sparks have started to fly between them on what could be the possible final results.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 14 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Viijayan, who turned Covid negative on Wednesday and was discharged from the Kozhikode Medical College hospital, may have violated Covid protocols.

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) A delegation of the Trinamool Congress met the Election Commission officials on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of creating differences between the people of different caste and community.

Kolkata, April 14 (IANS) The Chief Electoral officer of West Bengal Ariz Aftab has called for an urgent all-party meeting on matters related to campaign during the period of Covid-19 on Friday and has asked all the state and national political parties to send only one representative.

Kolkata, April 14 (IANS) Taking a lesson from the fourth phase, the Election Commission of India has decided to deploy 853 companies of central forces for the fifth phase when 45 constituencies spread across six districts will go for the polls on April 17. This will be the highest force concentration in this election, outnumbering the fourth phase when the Commission deployed 789 companies for 44 assembly constituencies.

Chennai, April 14 (IANS) The President of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and MP from Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu, Thol Thirumavalavan, has called upon the Congress to provide ticket to the daughter of late party leader P.S.W. Madhava Rao if by-elections are held in the Srivilliputhur constituency (reserved).

Chennai, April 14 (IANS) The 65 per cent polling at Chennai suburb Thiruvottiyur assembly constituency, much higher than the votes polled in Kolathur, Harbour or Thousand Lights, has made the members and supporters of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) happy.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 14 (IANS) The polls to elect the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly were over on April 6 and though none has a clue of what's in store for them, the two traditional political rivals have started to identify the best 20 state cabinet ministers.

Kolkata, April 14 (IANS) With the end of the deadline set by the Election Commission for not entering the boundaries of Cooch Behar district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday met the families of the victims who were killed at Sitalkuchi during the fourth phase of polling. Four people were killed in the firing by the central forces in Sitalkuchi in Bengal on April 10.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 14 (IANS) The unexpected resignation of Kerala Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel, often known as the blue eyed boy of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan shows that all's not well in the CPI-M in Kerala.

Chennai, April 14 (IANS) The Election Commission of India will deploy heavy police presence at booth No 92-M of Velachery where repolling will take place on April 17. The Commission secretary Malay Mallick has written to the state police Chief to deploy heavy security at the polling booth where repolling will take place between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 17.