Voting is being held in West Bengal and Assam under the second phase today i.e. on Thursday. In West Bengal, 171 candidates, including 19 women, are contesting on 30 seats in the second phase. At the same time, 345 candidates, including 26 women, are in the fray for 39 seats of the second phase in Assam. In Bengal, where the TMC has a direct fight with the BJP, in Assam, the BJP has a challenge to retain its government.
All political parties have given their full strength during the election campaign. In Bengal at this stage, all eyes are on the high-profile Nandigram seat, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is pitted against her former aide and BJP candidate Shubhendu Adhikari.
According to the officials, the Election Commission has declared all 10,620 polling stations as sensitive and around 651 companies of central forces have been deployed. He informed that polling will begin at seven in the morning during which state police personnel will also be deployed at important places. Sources said 199 companies of the Central Armed Police Force will be deployed in East Medinipur, 210 companies in West Medinipur, 170 companies in South Parganas and 72 companies in Bankura.
