Tight security arrangements are in place for peaceful polling in 22 constituencies in Murshidabad, 17 in Nadia and 11 in Birbhum, having a total of 11,531 polling stations.
Coverage: Assembly Elections 2011
Some of the prominent candidates whose fortunes will be decided are Abhijit Mukhkerjee, son of Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee from Nalhati seat, Panchayat minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Anisur Rahaman, former high court Judge Nure Alam Chowdhury, a Trinamool Congress candidate contesting from Murarai and Rukbanur Rahman, brother of late computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rahman from the Chapra constituency.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded candidates in all seats, followed by the Communist Party of India-Marxist in 31, Trinamool Congress in 29, Bahujan Samaj Party in 27 and Congress in 21 seats.
The police said 480 companies of central para-military forces have been deployed in the three districts. The six-phase election is scheduled to end on May 10.
