During a public gathering in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to the people of West Bengal for their impressive voter turnout in the second phase of polling, which is ongoing. He noted that as of 1 PM, 61.11% of voters had participated, with Hooghly district recording the highest turnout at 64.57%. Modi described the enthusiasm as unprecedented in the last six to seven decades, highlighting that voters were participating without fear, which he termed a 'sacred symbol of the Constitution'. The second phase covers 142 out of 294 Assembly seats, with a total electorate of approximately 3.21 crore. The main contest is between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the outcome seen as critical for both parties. The counting of votes is set for May 4.