In the first phase, voting is going to be held in 152 constituencies in 16 districts, including Darjeeling.
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Voting is underway in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections today. The polling, which began at 7 am, will continue till 6 pm.
Voting is going on in 152 constituencies in 16 districts including Darjeeling in the first phase. These districts include Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, North and South Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, West Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, West Medinipur and East Medinipur.
A total of 1,447 candidates are in the fray in the first phase of the elections. More than 44,000 polling stations have been set up, of which 7,384 have been classified as 'highly sensitive' or 'sensitive'. About 36 million voters are expected to exercise their franchise in this phase.
To make the elections free, fair and secure, the Election Commission has deployed 2,470 A company of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) has been mobilized, in which more than 240,000 security personnel have been deployed. A Quick Reaction Team (QRT) has also been mobilized around the polling stations.
'Assured Minimum Facilities' and voter assistance will be provided at all polling stations. Arrangements have also been made to keep mobile phones for voters outside the entrance of the polling station.
The elections, which began today, will continue in various phases till the 29th. It is expected that there will be a tough competition between Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the 294 seats of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
