Campaigning for the initial part of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections drew to a close on Saturday evening, with 133 candidates in 18 constituencies across three districts in the fray. Voting for these constituencies will be held on Monday. Voting in six phases will continue till May 5 and results will be declared on May 19.
In phase 1 [A], polling will take place for nine seats in Purulia, six in Paschim Medinipur and three in Bankura districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were the star campaigners for this phase.
While a ruling party member called it an “unusually long process”, the Opposition has not complained. There are 294 constituencies in the State and the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once said she did not mind if “polling is conducted in 294 phases.”
No holds barred in AssamThe high-pitched campaign by national and State leaders for the first phase of Assembly elections in Assam ended this evening after reaching a crescendo with last minute poll promises and allegations.
The first phase of polling will be held on April 4 for 65 of the 126 assembly constituencies.
The campaign was characterised by a no-holds barred tirade of allegations and counter-allegations and Congress going all out to retain power for the fourth successive term.
