Assembly Elections Phase 2 Voting: All Arrangements In Place As 69 Seats Of West Bengal, Assam To Go For Polls On Thursday

All preparations for phase 2 voting has been completed and election officials have also reached the polling stations in West Bengal and Assam.

Assembly Elections, Phase 2 Polling: The stage is set for the much-crucial second phase of Assembly Elections in the states of West Bengal and Assam on Thursday with Election Commission of India (ECI) along with state administrations ensuring all arrangements in place in order to conduct a peaceful electoral festival.

As per an official statement by EC, all preparations for phase 2 voting has been completed and election officials have also reached the polling stations in both the states.

69 Assembly seats both in West Bengal and Assam will go for polls on April 1. 

"All the booths where polling will be held in the second phase will be put under proper security radar as most of the areas are very sensitive, and the borders of the state adjoining other states are being closely monitored," an EC official told news agency IANS.

The election body also informed that as many as 700 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) companies have been deployed in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and Bankura districts.

Meanwhile, nearly 500 CAPF companies have also reached in Assam to ensure a completely peaceful and fearless environment for polling.

High Profile Battle Of Bengal's Nandigram In Phase 2 Polling

The assembly constituency of Nandigram is all set witness a high-profile electoral battle, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is pitted against her one-time loyalist-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Phase 2 polling.

TMC chief is looking for a third term in CMO from Nandigram constituency of Purbo Midnipur district. The battle for Nandigram is a prestige fight for both Mamata Banerjee and the BJP as it paved way for TMC's victory in 2011 Assembly polls ending 34 years of Left Front rule. 

Candidates In Fray

In West Bengal, a total of 171 candidates are in the fray for the second phase polling on 30 Assembly constituency seats where 75,94,549 voters will exercise their franchise.

Likewise in Assam, the second phase of Assembly polls will decide the fate of as many as 345 candidates in 39 Assembly constituency seats with over 73 lakh voters set to cast their ballots.

Counting of votes for West Bengal and Assam along with other poll-bound states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry will take place on May 2.