The “ground realities” in West Bengal, says the Election Commission, made it decide on a six-phase election in the State, parts of which have been described as disturbed.
Fifty-four constituencies in north Bengal will be the first to go to the polls, on April 18. North Bengal comprises the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur, and Malda.
Five days later, it will be the turn of 50 Assembly segments in Murshidabad, Nadia and Birbhum districts.
Kolkata and the adjoining North and South 24 Parganas districts, with a total of 75 seats, will go to the polls on April 27.
On May 3, elections will be held in 63 constituencies in Howrah, Hooghly and Purba Medinipur districts, as well as the southern parts of Bardhaman.
The elections in 38 constituencies in the districts of Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia, besides the remaining portion of Bardhaman, will be held on May 7.
The rest of Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia districts, spanning 14 Assembly segments spread across Jangal Mahal and considered one of the most troubled regions in the State because of Maoist activities there, go to the polls three days later.
