Second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections underway

Kolkata, Apr 23 (PTI) Polling began this morning in 50
constituencies for the second of the six-phase Assembly
elections in the east Indian state of West Bengal in which an
electorate of 93.33 lakh will decide the fate of 293
candidates.
Tight security arrangements are in place for peaceful
polling in 22 constituencies in Murshidabad, 17 in Nadia and
11 in Birbhum, having a total of 11,531 polling stations.
Some of the prominent candidates whose fortunes will
be decided are Abhijit Mukherjee, son of Union Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee from Nalhati seat, Panchayat
minister and CPI(M) leader Anisur Rahaman, former High Court
Judge Nure Alam Chowdhury, a Trinamool Congress candidate
contesting from Murarai and Rukbanur Rahman, brother of late
computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rahman from the Chapra
constituency.
BJP has fielded candidates in all seats, followed
by CPI(M) in 31, Trinamool Congress in 29, BSP in 27 and
Congress in 21 seats.
Police said 480 companies of central para-military
forces have been deployed in the three districts.
The six-phase election is scheduled to end on May 10.