Second phase of Assembly polling starts in Assam, West Bengal: Nandigram witnessing high-voltage contest between Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari

Both the states are witnessing the second phase of voting today.

Nandigram, which is located in East Medinipur, has earned the attention as former Trinamool Congress strongman Suvendu Adhikari is fighting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the seat which is considered to be a backyard of Adhikari family.

Suvendu joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in December, changing the political equation in the region.

Suvendu Adhikari's father Sishir Adhikari also joined the saffron brigade later.

About 22 companies of armed central security forces have been deployed for only Nandigram seat where webcasting is expected to cover about 75 per cent booths and arrangement was made to monitor the movement of people from the air.

The administration already imposed section 144 Cr Pc and tight Naka checking was being done in all entry points of the constituency.

The security around BJP candidate and CPI(M) nominee Minakshi Mukherjee was also tightened with more women combat force personnel.

A special SP rank officer has been deputed by the election commission to oversee the security aspect for only Nandigram.

Nandigram assembly constituency has a total of 2,57,99 voters, of them 1,23,257 are women electors, who are expected to cast vote at 355 polling booths, All the booths will be manned by the central armed security forces.

In West Bengal, voting will also take place in South 24 Parganas, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur.

In Assam, fate of 345 candidates will be decided. The min contest is between the ruling Congress and the BJP.
--