West Bengal: 25 seats in play in 6th and final phase today

Polling for the sixth and final phase of the Bengal Assembly elections will be held in 25 constituencies in districts of East Midnapore and Cooch Behar on Thursday. A total of 58,04,019 voters, including 27,80,150 women will exercise their franchise in 6,774 polling stations to decide the fate of 170 candidates, including 18 women.

Among 25 constituencies, 16 are in East Midnapore and 9 are in Cooch Behar. Polling will be held between 7 am to 6 pm.

Security has been beefed up in the poll-bound districts as the Election Commission is determined to conduct the final phase in a free and fair manner. During fourth and fifth phase polls, the poll panel had passed the test with flying colours as the election was by and large peaceful.

Total 238 companies of central armed forces (CPF) and 7,500 state police personnel will be deployed in East Midnapore district and total 123 companies of CPF and 4,500 state police personnel will be pressed into service in Cooch Behar district.

CPF will be deployed in all polling premises and lathi-wielding state personnel will facilitate queue management outside the polling booths. The Election Commission has taken several special measures including night and riverine patrolling by CPF. Special focus has been laid on the inter-state border areas and the police personnel have been asked to keep a strict vigil. The poll panel has set up total 94 “naka” checkpoints (67 in East Midnapore and 27 in Cooch Behar) to heighten surveillance. There will be 91 static surveillance teams which will monitor the law and order situation in the sixth phase.

The poll panel on Wednesday deployed an additional police observer for East Midnapore in view of the sensitivity of the district.

There will be 530 and 352 micro observers for the East Midnapore and Cooch Behar districts respectively in the sixth phase polling.

The EC will use 7,790 EVMs and 621 VVPATs. There are 5,438 polling premises having 6,774 polling stations and 629 sectors. The poll panel has set up 140 model polling stations and there will be 40 polling stations with all women polling personnel. The EC has identified total 557 and 157 vulnerable hamlets and also identified 1,428 and 257 vulnerable voters in East Midnapore and Cooch Behar districts respectively.

The poll panel has also identified 492 and 404 probable trouble mongers and has taken preventive action against 492 and 397 persons in the above mentioned districts respectively. So far, voters in 269 of the total 294 constituencies have exercised their franchise in the first five phases which were held between April 4 and 30. The Counting of votes will be held on May 19.