Polls begin on a peaceful note in Bengal

Kolkata, Sep 16 (UNI) Polling in three Parliamentary and one Assembly constituencies in West Bengal began on a brisk note amidst tight security arrangements.

People, braving the hot sun, were standing in long queues in front of the polling booths waiting to exercise their franchise.

The Bongaon Assembly seat, which fell vacant following the death of Mr Bhupen Seth of the Trinamool Congress, holds the key to the Trinamool Congress' attaining the status of the Opposition in the Assembly. The party has one seat short of the ''magic figure'' of 30 in the House.

The Trinamool Congress tries to retain the seat with support from the Congress by fielding senior leader Saugata Ray against Mr Pankaj Ghosh of the CPI (M).

In Malda, the seat fell vacant following the death of the Congress leader A B A Ghani Khan Chowdhury, who held sway over the constituency for a long time.

With the Trinamool Congress deciding not to field candidate in Malda, the Congress candidate Abu Hasnat Khan Chowdhury faces CPI (M) candidate Sailen Sarkar as his main opponent.

In Katwa, where election has been necessitated following the death of CPI (M) MP Mahboob Zahedi, CPI(M) candidate Abu Ayash Mondal is pitted against his main rival Susanta Ghosh of the Trinamool Congress with the Congress abstaining from contest.

Left Front candidate Narahari Mahato of the Forward Bloc takes on the Congress nominee Santiram Mahato in Purulia where Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Bannerjee has fielded a token candidate in Mr Dhirendra Chandra Mahato of the Janata Dal (U), a constituent of the Trinamool-led Paschimbanga Ganatantrik Front.

The election in Purulia is being held following the resignation of Forward Bloc MP Bir Singh Mahato, after he was implicated in a criminal case.

Altogether, 36 companies of Central forces had been deployed for smooth conduct of polling in Malda, Purulia and Katwa Lok Sabha constituencies and Bongaon Assembly constituency.

UNI Team KK KD MIR RAI1113