<span style="color: #222222;">In the poll-bound West Bengal, polling for the Seventh Phase of Assembly Elections is progressing smoothly.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The average voter turnout was registered at 74.83 per cent till 05.30 P.M.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The people were seen standing in long queues in front of the Polling Stations right from the beginning.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The polling, which began at 7.00 A.M., will be conducted till 6.30 P.M. in 34 Assembly seats spread over five districts going to polls today.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The state is witnessing eight-phase elections.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, the high-profile election campaign for the Eighth and Final Phase of the Assembly Elections concluded this evening.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The campaign was largely moved to the virtual platform and airwaves in the remaining phase following directives of the Election Commission in view of the recent spike in the COVID-19 infections in the state.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In the wake of prevalent COVID situation, all the prominent political parties decided not to hold big rallies and public meetings in the poll-bound areas and the party workers focussed on the door to door campaign and corner meetings.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Earlier, the poll body had decided to curtail the campaign timing for the remaining phases of Assembly Elections.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It also extended the Silence Period from 48 hours to 72 hours before polling and as a result, the final phase campaign came to an end this evening.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Thirty five Assembly Constituencies spread over four districts will go to polls in the Eighth and Final Phase on 29th of April. The counting of votes will be taken up together on 2nd of May.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, as per the fresh poll notifications issued in respect of Samserganj and Jangipur Assembly Constituencies, the polling in these two constituencies will now be held on 16th of May and the whole process of elections will be completed by 21st of May.</span><br />''  <br />