Bengal Assembly:Polling underway for phase 6

In the poll-bound West Bengal, polling for the Sixth Phase of Assembly Elections is progressing smoothly.The average voter turnout was registered at 37.27 per cent till 11.30 A.M.The people were seen standing in long queues in front of the Polling Stations right from the beginning.The polling, which began at 7.00 A.M., will be conducted till 6.30 P.M. in 43 Assembly seats spread over four districts going to polls on Thursday.The state is witnessing eight-phase elections. 
All the necessary facilities and security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polling during this phase.The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is being used along with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at every Polling Station, with a view to enhance the transparency and credibility of the election process and the availability of adequate number of EVMs and VVPATs has already been ensured for the smooth conduct of elections.In view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the option of Postal Ballot facility has been extended to the electors who are COVID- 19 positive or suspect as certified by competent authority and are in home or institutional quarantine along with those marked as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and above the age of 80 years.

During the Sixth Phase, total 306 candidates including 27 women are vying for the 43 Assembly seats spread over four districts of West Bengal.Over 1.03 crore voters including 50.65 lakh women and 256 Third Gender persons will decide the fate of these candidates.Total 14,480 Polling Stations have been set up for this purpose.Ruling AITC and Bharatiya Janata Party are contesting for all the 43 seats. Congress, Left parties and their alliance partner Indian Secular Front are fighting under the banner of Sanyukta Morcha.BSP has fielded 37 candidates, CPI (M) has 23, Congress - 12, AIFB - four and CPI two while there are 82 independents along with 60 others are also in the fray.