Assembly Elections 2016: Voting begins in Assam, West Bengal for first phase

Kolkata:  The first phase of polling in West Bengal on Monday witnessed 31 percent electorates casting their votes till 11 am. Voting began at 7 a.m. for the first phase of assembly elections in 18 constituencies of the state amid tight security. Meanwhile, Assam saw 19 percent voter turnout till 9 a.m. The first of the two-phase Assam assembly polls began today at 7 a.m in 65 constituencies. Voting for the first phase of assembly elections began in Assam and West Bengal on Monday in 65 and 18 constituencies respectively. The first of the two-phase Assam Assembly election began at 7 AM today amid strict security, with 65 of the state's total 126 constituencies going to the poll in which the main contenders are the ruling Congress and the BJP-AGP-BPF alliance. An electorate of 95,11,732, including 45,95,712 women, are able to exercise their franchise in 12,190 polling booths to decide the fate of 539 candidates. As many as 1,241 polling stations have been identified as 'critical' polling stations, 1,992 as 'hypersensitive' and 3,739 as 'sensitive'. The 18 poll-going West Bengal constituencies include- nine in Purulia, three in Bankura and six in West Midnapore. In 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected constituencies, polling will end two hours early at 4 p.m. As many as 40,09,171 electors including 16 transgender voters will exercise their franchise in the first stage which has 133 candidates in the fray. The staggered six-phase elections for 294 assembly seats are spread over seven polling dates and will continue till May 5. The other six polling dates are April 11, 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5.