Nearly 52.22 percent turnout was recorded in the first two hours after polling began in 49 constituencies spread over two districts – Howrah and North 24 Parganas – bordering Kolkata in phase four of the West Bengal assembly elections on Monday.
Polling for the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections began across 53 constituencies on Saturday morning.
Polling began at 7 A.M. and will continue till 6 P.M. across 14,500 booths, wherein 1.2 crore voters will exercise their franchise.
To curb violence, the Election Commission has deployed a strong contingent of 90,000 central and state police forces in the three poll-bound districts.
The commission has also enforced prohibitory orders under 144 CrPc in all 53 constituencies in the state.
Check nakas have been set up at various entry points where vehicles are being frisked by police and central forces.
A number of political heavyweights, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, key ministers like Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim, Manish Gupta, Partha Chatterjee, Javed Ahmed Khan and city mayor Sovan Chatterjee will try their luck in the fifth phase of the state assembly election.
Altogether 349 candidates, including 43 women, are in the fray for today’s election in three districts including Kolkata, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly.
(With PTI Inputs)