Kolkata: The fifth phase of polling in West Bengal will begin tomorrow. The fifth phase, in which 45 constituencies are in the contest, will be crucial in determining who wields power.
The fifth phase includes the largest number of constituencies in the eight-phase election. Elections will be held in the North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Bardhaman, Darjeeling, Jaipalgudi, and Kalimpong districts. With 1.13 crore voters, 342 candidates are in the fray in the fifth phase.
Because of the widespread violence in the fourth phase, massive military security has been put in place in the polling districts. The Election Commission had directed that the advertisement campaign be stopped 72 hours earlier.
The Election Commission has convened an all-party meeting of political parties today to assess the situation. The Election Commission, meanwhile, has ruled out the possibility of taking the remaining steps together, given the situation in which Covid is spreading.
Elections to the 294-member assembly in 180 constituencies will be completed by the fifth phase. Elections will be held in 114 constituencies in the next three phases.