KOLKATA : Voting for the first (1A) of the six-phase Assembly election in West Bengal began this morning in 18 of the state’s 294 constituencies amid elaborate security arrangements.
Official reports said no untoward incidents had so far been received. However, voting stopped in three polling stations of West Midnapore district following snag in EVM machines.
The polling is being held in 18 constituencies across three districts- West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, which form the tribal-dominated ‘Jangalmahal’ region, once the hotbed of Maoist extremists that has witnessed prolonged bloodbath and power struggle among the key political forces. ‘Jangalmahal’ has a total of 40 seats, 22 of which will go to polls on April 11.
The constituencies where polling is being held are Nayagram (ST), Gopiballavpur, Jhargram,Salboni, Medinipur, Binpur (ST), Bandwan(ST), Balarampur, Baghmundi, Joypur, Purulia, Manbazar (ST), Kashipur, Para (SC), Raghunathpur (SC), Ranibandh (ST),Raipur (ST) and Taldangra.
As many as 40,09,171 electors including 19,57,453 female voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the first phase which has 133 candidates in the fray. All the major parties – the ruling All India Trinamool congress (AITC), the CPI(M) led Left Front-Congress combine and the BJP, among others have fielded candidates for all the 18 seats.
There are total 4,945 polling stations out of which 1,962 have been classified as critical ones by the Election Commission. Voter Verifiable Audit Trails (VVAT) are being done in 562 polling stations.
The 2016 elections features a unique phenomenon as the Left Front and the Congress, which had been at daggers drawn for decades have come to a poll understanding to take on the might of the Trinamool Congress. In all Left-wing extremism affected polling stations, the EC has decided to deploy a minimum of one section of force, which has around ten security personnel. There is a minimum of three security layers including sector forces and a quick response team. Central forces are present in every polling booth. Moreover two choppers are also making aerial surveillance. (AGENCIES)
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