Voting starts for bypolls in West Bengal

KOLKATA: Voting for by-elections in two Lok Sabha constituencies and one assembly seat in West Bengal began this morning under the shadow of the Centre's demonetisation drive.

The by-elections are being held in Cooch Behar and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies and Monteswar assembly constituency.

Ruling Trinamool Congress, BJP, Left Front and Congress have fielded their candidates in the three seats.

Although the Congress and CPI(M)-led Left Front had contested the April-May assembly polls, the two decided to part company in this round of by-elections.

Demonetisation had become a key issue in the last lap of campaign for the by-polls.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not campaign for the by-polls and left it to the other leaders of her party.

The counting of the votes will take place on November 22.