Security beefed up for first phase of polling for Assam, West Bengal elections

Tight security arrangements have been made for the first phase of Assam and West Bengal Assembly polls which will be held on April 4.

In Assam, nearly 94 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in this phase. A total of 539 candidates, including Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal, are in the fray.

All arrangements are being made to conduct polls in a free and fair manner. In West Bengal, 18 Assembly seats spread across districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura will go to polls in this phase.
Around 5,000 polling stations have been set up for almost 38 lakh voters.

Multiple layers of security, comprising both central and state police forces, are being made. Two-phased polling was announced for 126-member Assam Assembly, while for the West Bengal Assembly, which has 294 members, voting will be held in six phases.

The election process for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections will begin on April 22.