Polling for the final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is happening today across 142 constituencies, including Kolkata, with stringent security measures in place. Election officials have sent out polling teams equipped with necessary materials like EVMs and VVPATs to the designated polling stations. The total number of registered voters in these constituencies stands at 3,21,73,837, with male voters numbering 1,64,35,627, female voters at 1,57,37,418, and third gender voters at 792.
The Election Commission of India records show that all 3,21,73,837 registered voters have been provided with Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs). Notably, there are 3,243 voters aged 100 years or above, 1,96,801 voters aged 85 or above, 146 Non-Resident Indian (NRI) voters, and 39,961 service voters. A total of 1,448 candidates are contesting in these 142 constituencies, with 1,228 male candidates and 220 female candidates.
Among the constituencies going to polls today, 107 are in the general category, 34 are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC), and one is reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST). Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district has the highest number of candidates at 15, while Hooghly district has the lowest at five. The polling stations for this phase total 41,001, including 39,301 main polling stations and 1,700 auxiliary polling stations.
The final phase of the Assembly polls in West Bengal is being conducted with extensive security arrangements, involving 2,407 companies of central forces, along with personnel from West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police. Webcasting will be in place at all polling stations, and the election results are scheduled to be announced on May 4.
