West Bengal is set to go to polls in the crucial first phase of the Assembly elections on Thursday (April 23, 2206). About 3.60 crore voters will cast their ballot to determine the fate of 1,452 candidates. Voting will be held from 7 a.m. onwards for 152 Assembly seats spread across 16 districts, eight in north Bengal and eight in south Bengal.
Also read | Of 90 lakh voters excluded by SIR in West Bengal, 63% are Hindus, 34% are Muslims
The high-stakes elections come after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) which reduced the number of electorates in the State by almost 12%. A record 2,450 companies of Central paramilitary forces that comprise nearly 2.5 lakh personnel have been deployed by the Election Commission for the polls.
Also read | West Bengal elections: Trinamool involved in 64% of the poll violence in past decade
For the BJP, the first phase is virtually synonymous with north Bengal. It had had won 59 of the 152 seats in 2021 against the Trinamool Congress’ tally of 93. For the ruling TMC which is seeking a fourth consecutive term in power, preventing a BJP surge in the north is critical to shaping the political mood for the rest of the contest.
The second phase will be held on April 29, when 142 seats in and around Kolkata go to polls. The votes will be counted on May 4.
Follow for live updates here