Date:17/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/17/stories/2006041703471300.htm

National

First phase of West Bengal elections today

Special Correspondent

Fortyfive constituencies go to the polls in three districts; 227 candidates are in fray

PRE-POLL EXERCISE: Polling officers checking electronic voting machines at Midnapore in West Bengal on Sunday on the eve of the first phase of Assembly elections. — Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

KOLKATA: In the backdrop of recent Maoist attacks and a call by extremists to boycott elections, the districts of Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia go to the polls in the first of the five phase West Bengal Assembly elections on Monday.

Elections will be held in a total of 45 constituencies in the districts, where 227 candidates are contesting. The total number of voters in the region is more than 6.8 million. Of this, nearly 3.3 million are women.

Even though just eight Assembly segments, all adjoining the State's border with Jharkhand, are the ones most affected by Maoist violence in recent times, there are some pockets in the three districts where extremists reportedly have a presence. West Bengal's borders with its neighbouring States have been sealed in view of the polls.

Deputy Election Commissioner Anand Kumar visited the villages in Paschim Medinipur on Sunday and assured the people that they could go to the polling booths without any fear as enough security arrangementd had been made to ensure a peaceful poll. He was accompanied by Chief Electoral Officer Debashis Sen.

Para-military forces

More than 500 companies of para-military forces will be deployed during the polls. They will be primarily responsible for protecting the 7,911 polling stations in the three districts and regulating the entry of voters. The State police will be responsible for maintaining law and order.

Of the constituencies going to the polls, 21 are in Paschim Medinipur, 11 in Purulia and 13 in Bankura. Among the prominent candidates are Health Minister Surjyakanta Mishra, Minister for Minor Irrigation Nandagopal Bhattachaarya and Minister of State for Backward Classes Welfare Bilashibala Sahis. Ace swimmer Bula Choudhury is also in the fray for the first time as a candidate of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

The Left Front has fielded 43 candidates in the three districts and its largest constituent, the CPI (M) alone is contesting 35 seats.

The Trinamool Congress is contesting 39 seats and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, in four. The Congress has fielded nominees in 36 constituencies and its partner, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in six.