Polling for fourth phase of Bengal Assembly elections begins amid elaborated security

KOLKATA:   Polling for the fourth phase of West Bengal state assembly elections began this morning  in 49 constituencies spread over districts of North 24-Parganas and Howrah, amid elaborated security arrangements. Of the total constituencies went to the polls in the fourth phase, 33 are in North 24 parganas and 16 in Howrah district. The constituencies are Bagda (SC), Bangaon Uttar (SC), Bangaon Dakshin (SC), Gaighata(SC), Swarupnagar (SC), Baduria, Habra, Ashoknagar, Amdanga, Bijpur, Naihati, Bhatpara, Jagatdal, Noapara, Barrackpur, Khardaha, Dum Dum Uttar, Panihati, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Dum Dum, Rajarhat New Town, Bidhannagar, Rajarhat Gopalpur, Madhyamgram, Barasat, Deganga, Haroa, Minakhan (SC), Sandeshkhali (ST), Basirhat Dakshin, Basirhat Uttar, Hingalganj(SC), Bally, Howrah Uttar, Howrah Madhya, Shibpur, Howrah Dakshin, Sankrail (SC), Panchla, Uluberia Purba, Uluberia Uttar (SC), Uluberia Dakshin, Shyampur, Bagnan, Amta, Udaynarayanpur, Jagatballavpur and Domjur. A total of 1,08,16,942 electorate,  including 52,24,395 females voters, are eligible to cast vote to decide the fate of 345 candidates. About 12,500 polling stations have been set up for them. The total number of voters in 33 constituencies of North 24 Parganas district is more than 7.5 million,  while that in 16 constituencies of Howrah district is about 3.2 million.   There are altogether 40 women candidates  in the fray.The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements in all poll-bound areas to ensure smooth elections. Political bigwigs like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BJP president Amit Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) state secretary Suryakanta Mishra, among others raised the poll pitch. Prominent candidates in the fray in this phase include former state Transport Minister Madan Mitra, who was arrested by the CBI in the Saradha chit fund scam. He is defending his  Kamarhati assembly seat in North Twentyfour Parganas from behind the bars as a Trinamool  Congress candidate. Other notable contestants include Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra, former Finance Minister Dr Asim Dasgupta, Tourism Minister and noted theatre personality Bratya Basu, Actor-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly(BJP), former Bengal cricket team captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla(AITC), AITC MLA Sujit Bose, Congress leader Arunava Ghosh and Agriculture Minister Purnendu Bose. Elections to 294 seats West Bengal Assembly will be conducted in six phases, spread across seven polling days, from April 4 to May 5. The counting of votes in all constituencies will take place on May 19. (AGENCIES)

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