New Delhi, April 30 -- The second phase of assembly polls in West Bengal has seen a huge 92.54% per cent turnout till 5.30 pm, according to the Election Commission data. Purba Bardhaman district continued to maintain the lead with a whopping turnout of 92.46%, followed by Hooghly (90.34%), Nadia (90.28%), Howrah (89.44%) and North 24 Paraganas. South 24 Paraganas witnessed a turnout of 89.74% and 89.57% respectively. Political parties are interpreting the high turnout in their favour. The first phase witnessed a record voter turnout of 91.78 per cent. While Trinamool Congress said it will win at least 100 of 152 seats that went to the polls in the first phase, the BJP said it is confident of winning 110 seats in the first phase. The first phase of polling was held on April 23. The main fight in West Bengal is being seen between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The second phase of the polling is widely seen as the 'litmus test' for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), as voting moved into the party's traditional fortresses in South Bengal and Kolkata. The second phase covers 142 out of 294 seats in West Bengal. Over 2.22 crore voters, including 1,64,35,627 men and 1,57,37,418 women, were eligible to cast their votes in the second phase of polling. Key contests in the second phase included Bhabanipur and Tollyganj. In the 2021 elections, the TMC dominated this specific belt, winning 123 of these 142 seats. For the BJP, this phase is about making inroads into the urban "bhadralok" vote and the Matua community. For the TMC, it is about holding the line to ensure a fourth consecutive term for Mamata Banerjee. Exit polls will be released today after the conclusion of polling at 6 pm. The counting of votes will take place on May 4. West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal on Wednesday said repolling is likely to be announced in booths where EVMs would be found tampered with. The CEO said that a repoll will be ordered only after the authorities get reports from the district election officer or election observers on allegations of tampering with EVMs using tapes or blot of ink. Agarwal's comment came following allegations by the BJP that the party's symbols on EVMs were covered with tapes or ink in certain booths during the second and final phase of polling, which is underway. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared a video on X, claiming that white tape had been placed on the party's symbol in booth numbers 144 and 189 in the Falta assembly seat, and demanded a re-poll. The Commission has not yet confirmed the authenticity of the video shared by the BJP leader, but said reports from the ground are being examined. "We will review the complaints regarding the fixing of black or white tapes on EVMs and then consider whether repolling is required or not," Agarwal told reporters. He indicated that the Commission could expand the scope of action if the issue is found to be widespread. "If a large number of booths in any assembly constituency report such instances of tape being affixed, then re-polling may be conducted across the entire constituency," the official added. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari landed in the same polling booth area in Bhabanipur's Chakraberia on Wednesday morning, and took swipes at one another without any direct interaction, underlining the prestige battle unfolding in the CM's political bastion. Though they did not come face-to-face or exchange courtesies, the two rival candidates were briefly in the same area in ward number 70 of Chakraberia, where Banerjee was seated outside a local party office after receiving complaints of alleged intimidation of local TMC leaders. As Banerjee remained on the verandah of the party office, Adhikari arrived on the road, just opposite the spot, accompanied by a large contingent of central forces personnel, and launched an attack on the chief minister, claiming she had realised that "not a single vote" was coming her way. While Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to "rig" the election using central forces, police observers and election officials, Adhikari dismissed her allegations as signs of "frustration", saying the chief minister was "scared" because state police no longer controlled the polling process. "Banerjee is scared. Her police have been replaced by central forces, which is why she is scared. The EC has deployed CAPFs here, so if she has any problem, she should approach them. Why have 40-50 people come with her?" Adhikari said. "Banerjee is a candidate. She can certainly visit booths. But why this 'goodagardi' (hooliganism)? I have complained to the Kolkata DEO. No one will be allowed to indulge in intimidation this time," he said. Banerjee, who usually steps out of her Kalighat residence only in the afternoon to cast her vote at Mitra Institution School, broke convention this time and hit the ground before 8 am, signalling the political stakes attached to the constituency and the larger battle for south Bengal. "The BJP wants to rig this election. Elections in West Bengal are usually peaceful. Is there goonda raj here?" Banerjee told reporters, alleging that democratic norms had been severely compromised. She accused central forces and election observers of acting at the BJP's behest and claimed TMC workers and leaders were being selectively targeted across districts. "Several observers have come from outside and are acting as per the BJP's directions. They are going to police stations and creating pressure. They are calling for the arrest of all TMC agents. My party's youth president was picked up this morning and later released," she alleged. Claiming that she and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had stayed awake through the night monitoring the situation, the chief minister said, "Atrocities took place across West Bengal last night. We were awake the entire night. Our workers are ready to die, but we will not allow democracy to be murdered."...