Over 85 percent turnout in second phase of West Bengal assembly polls

Kolkata, Apr 23(ANI): Brisk polling was recorded on Saturday in the second phase of elections in 50 constituencies spread over three districts of West Bengal, with a voter turnout of 85.32 per cent.

The voting which started at 7 a.m. continued till 5 p.m.

Over 93 lakh voters in 11,531 polling stations spread over Murshidabad, Nadia and Birbhum districts elected their representatives out of 293 candidates.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had fielded the highest number of candidates, 50, followed by the CPI (M), 31. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has fielded 29 candidates, the Bahujan Samaj Party (27) and the Congress (21).

Prominent candidates, whose fate would be decided in this phase, include Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit Mukherjee from Nalhati, Panchayat, Minister and CPI (M) leader Anisur Rehman, former High Court judge Nure Alam Chowdhury contesting on Trinamool Congress ticket from Murarai and Rukbanur Rehman, brother of computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rehman from the Chapra constituency.

The Left Front has been in power in West Bengal for 34 years.

The state will have elections in six phases. The first phase took place on April 18.

The third phase will take place on April 27, the fourth phase on May 3, the fifth phase on May 7 and the sixth phase on May 10.

The total number of assembly constituencies in West Bengal is 294, of which 68 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 16 for Scheduled Tribes. (ANI)