Exit polls predict Left lead in Bengal

The ruling Left Front is likely to lead in the fifth and final phase.

As in earlier phases of the assembly elections, West Bengal's ruling Left Front is likely to lead in the fifth and final phase, winning between 31 to 36 of the 49 seats in the six North Bengal districts, which went to the polls on Tuesday, exit polls predicted.

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According to one poll conducted by a private television channel, the Front will win 31 seats, the Congress 12, Trinamool Congress three and others like the GNLF, three.

Of the 293 constituencies, which went to the polls all over the state, the Front will win between 195 and 210 seats, the Trinamool Congress up to 48 to 56 and the Congress 30 to 35 seats, the polls indicated.

Exit polls conducted by another channel indicated that the Front would bag 35 seats in the fifth phase, the Congress 10, Trinamool Congress one and the GNLF three.

It indicated that the Front will win 208 seats statewide while the Trinamool Congress will win 44, the Congress 33 and others eight.

Altogether 306 candidates, including seven ministers, were in the fray in the 49 constituencies spread across the districts of Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Darjeeling and Malda.

These constituencies comprise an electorate of 81.7 lakh.