Last phase of West Bengal Assembly poll begins

KOLKATA: Polling began this morning in the sixth and last phase of Assembly election in the two districts of East Midnapore and Coochbehar amidst strict security.

An electorate of over 58 lakh is eligible to cast their ballots at 6,774 polling stations between 7 AM to 6 PM in 25 constituencies.

In all, 170 candidates, including 18 women, are in the fray for the last phase of elections.

Maintaining a tight security cover, the poll panel has deployed 361 companies of central forces assisted by a contingent of 12,000 state police personnel.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been promulgated on the polling day and enforced strictly to ensure that any unlawful assembly is effectively curbed.

Out of the total electors, 27.8 lakh are womem while the third gender constitutes a small minority of 68 voters.

The weather is expected to be pleasant with thundersquall occurring in many places in the two districts in the past hours. The weatherman in fact have predicted heavy showers in Coochbehar district, in particular.

For the first time since Independence, residents of border enclaves in Coochbehar will be able to exercise their franchise, thanks to the formal inclusion of enclaves in the Indian territory last year.