The Election Commission put in place strict security arrangements for the second of the eight-phase assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam, which began on Thursday (April 1). Both eyes in West Bengal are on Nandigram, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is battling Suvendu Adhikari.
According to the Election Commission of India, Assam had 21.71 percent voter turnout, while West Bengal had over 29.27 percent polling before 11:17 a.m. in the second process.
This process of West Bengal’s eight-phase election, which started on March 27, would see 30 constituencies spanning four districts go to the polls. In the second phase, the remaining constituencies in Bankura, East Midnapore, and West Midnapore, districts that also voted in the first phase, will vote. This process will also see the first round of polls in the district of South 24 Parganas. Rather than any other district of the province, the South 24 Parganas will hold elections in three phases.
The most high-profile electoral contest this election season will take place in Nandigram, which is part of the East Midnapore district. Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is contesting the seat, as is her former protege Suvendu Adhikari, who is now standing for the BJP.
In the upcoming round, which will see 30 constituencies across four districts go to the polls, a total of 171 candidates are standing. The estimated number of electors who will participate in the election is 75,94,549.
A total of 39 assembly constituencies in Assam will vote today, spanning 13 districts in the Barak Valley, three hill districts, and portions of central and lower Assam. In this process, over 73.44 lakh voters will determine the fate of 345 contestants, including 26 women.
West Bengal and Assam start voting at 7 a.m. and would end at 6 p.m. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi has urged voters in West Bengal and Assam to vote in record numbers.
