Millions cast vote in final phase of India polls

India's West Bengal has held a marathon election over the past few weeks, against the backdrop of soaring virus cases and record deaths in the country. (AFP)

Millions voted in the final phase of a marathon election in India’s West Bengal yesterday, despite a record-breaking spike in Covid-19 infections and deaths that has devastated the country. Long queues of voters appeared outside polling booths as temperatures soared. Many in rural parts of the state failed to observe social distancing rules, with some wearing masks but others hanging them loosely on their chins or from their ears. Sporadic violence was reported from several constituencies, with crude bombs thrown and vehicles damaged. Thousands have been killed in political violence in West Bengal over the decades, and this year’s polls – held in eight phases over the course of a month – have also triggered deadly clashes between rival parties. Winning power in the state of 90mn would be a major victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which is seeking to end a decade of rule by the state’s firebrand leader Mamata Banerjee. Nearly 8.5mn people are eligible to vote in the eighth phase of polling in the state. Results will be released on May 2. “In line with the Covid-19 protocols, I call upon people to cast their vote and enrich the festival of democracy,” Modi tweeted yesterday. Packed election rallies attended by mostly maskless crowds including in the restive eastern state, along with huge religious festivals, have been blamed for India’s surge in cases over the past few weeks. Before and since voting kicked off in late March, the Indian leader, along with Banerjee and other minor parties, held numerous rallies before cutting back as virus cases grew.