Kolkata, 30 March (H.S.):

The Election Commission of India has issued the notification for Assembly elections in West Bengal covering all 294 seats, with polling to be held in two phases starting at 7 am.

The poll panel had on March 15 announced the election schedule for West Bengal along with four other states and one Union Territory. While elections in other states will be conducted in a single phase, West Bengal will go to polls in two phases.

As per the schedule, the first phase of polling will be held on April 23 across 152 seats, while the second phase will take place on April 29 covering 142 seats. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Among political parties, the All India Trinamool Congress has announced candidates for 291 seats, leaving three seats in the hills for the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has so far released candidates in three lists, naming nominees for 144 seats in the first list and 112 in the second, with 19 seats yet to be announced.

Left parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India and Revolutionary Socialist Party, have also declared candidates in multiple phases.

The Indian National Congress has announced candidates for 284 constituencies, fielding senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur. Mausam Benazir Noor has been nominated from Malatipur in Malda, while Ali Imran Ramz (Victor) has been fielded from Chakulia in Uttar Dinajpur.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has stepped up preparations to ensure free and peaceful polls, carrying out large-scale reshuffles in the state police and administration and deploying central forces across sensitive areas.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey