Polling will be held in 62 constituencies in four districts of West Bengal in the third phase of Assembly elections. Voters will exercise their franchise in all 22 constituencies in Murshidabad, 17 in Nadia, seven in Kolkata and 16 in rural Bardhaman.

Nearly 1.37 crore voters across 16,461 polling stations will decide the fate of 418 candidates. Of them, 61 are crorepatis, 80 have criminal cases against them and 65 of them are facing serious cases related to murder and rape.

Important candidates in this phase include three Trinamool Ministers — Sashi Panja, Sadhan Pandey and Subrata Saha. Two former Ministers, Anisur Rahaman and Debesh Das, both CPI(M) candidates, are in the fray. Congress leader Somendranath Mitra and Mohammad Sohrab, party leader in the Assembly, are also contesting. For the BJP, former State president Rahul Sinha is in the fray in Kolkata.

Latest updates of West Bengal third phase Assembly elections

11.45 a.m.: Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dibyebdu Sarkar told The Hindu, " the report submitted to the Election Commission by the SP of Murshidabad states that the person whose body was found in Domkal in the district is not a polling agent of any party. The report states that cutting wounds with sharp weapons were found on the body which was found about 500 metres away from a polling booth."
11.36 a.m.: 11 arrested in Beleghata Assembly in north Kolkata for trying to influence polling.
11.35 a.m.: Murshidabads SP filed a report to Election Commission on Domkal violence, where one person was killed, says EC sources.
11.30 a.m.: Three injured in Ketugram in Baradhaman after crude bomb explosion.
10.30 a.m.: Poll percentage at 9 am: Murshidabad 20.53, Nadia 18.09, Kolkata North 14.71, Burdwan 17.01. Overall 18.29.
10:00 am Seven persons detained so far from Beleghata area for allegedly trying to influrnce voters in the queue in north Kolkata, a senior police officer said.
09:12 am CPI(M) supporter allegedly beaten up by TMC in Chakdaha in Nadia district.
08.50 a.m.: In Shyampukur seat of north Kolkata where polling is on.
08.35 a.m.: TMC candidate Samik Hussain says the death result of fighting between Congress and Left.

People queue up at a polling booth early morning in Islampur in Murshidabad district.

08.30 a.m.:
One CPI(M) worker killed in Domkal Assembly seat in Murshidabad
07.40 a.m.: Two CPI-M polling agents allegedly assaulted by TMC workers in the Gayeshpur town in Nadia district.
07:30 am The Election Commission has identified 3,401 hamlets in the phase as vulnerable where extra security and confidence building measures were taken.
07.15 a.m.: CPI(M) polling agents allegedly driven out by TMC cadres in Belieaghata and Kashipur in Kolkata and Ketugram in Bardhaman.
07.10 a.m.: Third phase kicks off at Murshidabad, Nadia, Bardhaman and northern parts of Kolkata at 7 am.
06 55 am Polling will begin at 7 am in 62 constituencies in four districts of West Bengal in the third phase of Assembly elections on Thursday.

A look at Phase II

Phase II saw a strong contest in 56 Assembly segments, mostly in the northern part of the State, with 79.70 per cent polling. During the second phase, a clash between BJP and TMC workers left eight persons injured in Dumrut village in Birbhum district. 

Post Saradha scam in which lakhs of investors had been duped and the Narada sting operation, which has purportedly shown some leaders of Trinamool Congress (TMC) accepting bribes, the issue of corruption has evolved as the main poll plank for the Congress-Left Front alliance, apart from “restoration of democracy”. In the first phase, out of the 133 candidates registered, three are crorepatis and 21 have criminal charges against them. 

Six things to watch out for in this polls: Can Mamata Banerjee retain her hold in West Bengal? Will the Congress-Left alliance click? What are the other things to watch out for this time around? 

Keywords: West Bengal Assembly elections, Bardhaman, Murshidabad