Polling begins in 2 civic bodies of Bengal

Kolkata, Oct 3: Polling for Asansol and Bidhan Nagar Municipal Corporations began this morning by and large on a peaceful note barring one stray incident of bomb throwing in Asansol's Jamuria area.

State Election Commission sources said polling began peacefully with large queues seen outside the booths in both civic corporations in North 24 Parganas and Burdwan districts of West Bengal. No untoward incident was reported so far while security personnel kept vigil outside the booths, the sources said.

A district official said a bomb was hurled in Jamuria area of Asansol but polling passed off peacefully in the corporation area by and large. A police force reached the spot a Jamuria and further details were awaited.

The polls are a precursor to next year's assembly elections in Bengal with ruling Trinamool Congress and its arch rival Left Front once again pitted against each other.

The TMC's electoral invincibility will be challenged by an apparently resurgent Left Front. The campaign for the election to the Asansol Municipal Corporation (106 wards) and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (41) ended on October 1 afternoon marked by rancour. The results will be announced on October 16.

PTI