Polling underway for first phase of W. Bengal elections

Kolkata, Apr 18 (ANI): Polling for the first phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal for 54 constituencies is going on today.

The voting, which started at 7 a.m. will continue till 5 p.m.

Voting is taking place over six North Bengal districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinjapur, South Dinajpur and Malda.

Among the important political figures whose fortunes will be decided today include ten ministers of the Left Front government, including Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya (CPI-M), PWD minister Kshiti Goswami, Jail And Social Welfare Minister Biswanath Chowdhury (both belonging to RSP), Congress leader Debaprasad Roy and Trinamool Congress Darjeeling district president Gautam Deb.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polls. Out of 12,131 polling booths, about 1,800 have been identified as sensitive.

Inter-state and International borders along North Bengal have been sealed to prevent entry of unwanted persons. Twenty-eight general observers, nine expenditure observers and three police observers will monitor the polling.

The Left Front has been in power in West Bengal for more than three decades.

Presently, it is facing a tough challenge from opposition Trinamool Congress and its ally Congress, who have stepped up pressure by raising simmering issues such as Maoist insurgency, corruption, and unemployment, ahead of the polls.

The state will have elections in six phases. The second phase of voting will take place on April 23, third phase on April 27, fourth phase on May 3, fifth phase on May 7 and sixth phase on May 10.

The total number of assembly constituencies in West Bengal is 294, of which 68 are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 16 for the Scheduled Tribes. (ANI)