West Bengal, Assam vote in first phase of assembly polls: All you need to know

Polling began at 7 am for 30 seats in first phase of West Bengal assembly elections. Voters queue outside polling stations to caste their votes amid tight security. Over 73 lakh voters to exercise franchise & decide fate of 191 candidates in these seats. Most of the seats are located in the once-Naxal-affected Jungle Mahal region. Elections are being held in Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, Paschim and Purba Medinipur. Elections, which will continue till 6 pm, are being held following Covid-19 guidelines. EC deployed around 730 companies of central forces, guarding 10,288 polling booths. West Bengal is voting in eight phases for 294 seats, votes will be counted on May 2. Voting also began for 47 seats in the first phase of assembly elections in Assam. Altogether 264 candidates, including 23 women, are in the fray in the first phase. A total of 300 companies of security forces have been deployed in the first phase. People are voting at 11,537 polling stations across 12 districts. Altogether, 81,09,815 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the first phase. Assam is voting in three phases for the 126-member assembly, results on May 2.