In West Bengal the campaigning for the assembly polls has ended and the last phase of voting will take place on April 29.

The polling will take place between 7 am to 6.30 pm amid strict Covid-19 guidelines. The final phase of the West Bengal election will seal the fate of 283 candidates who are in the fray for 35 seats in Malda, Murshidabad, Kolkata North and Birbhum.

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In view of the violence in the previous phases, security measures have been heightened. Incidents of violence, particularly the death of five people in Cooch Behar in the fourth round of polling on April 10 have raised the concerns about the security issues. The central security forces are also under question about the way they are handling the security scenario.

Election commission of India has decided to deploy at least 641 companies of central forces, including 224 in Birbhum district, in the eighth phase to ensure free and fair voting.

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Preparation for the Phase eight not only witnessed a curtailed campaigning due to a 72-hour silence period but the roadshows were also banned. Attendance in public meetings was capped at a maximum of 500 to prevent the spread of the virus.

Amidst the restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus, political parties were holding virtual rallies to woo voters ahead of the penultimate phase of polling. Campaigning for the eighth phase of polling for 35 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal ended at 6.30 pm on Monday.

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For the previous seven phases, the voting was held beginning March 27 till April 26. Vote counting will take place on May 02. A total of 84,77,728 voters comprising 43,55,835 males, 41,21,735 women and 158 of the third gender are eligible to exercise their voting franchise in the final phase of the election. Out of the total 35 seats, six constituencies are in Malda, 11 are in Murshidabad, seven are in Kolkata North and 11 are in Birbhum districts. For the 35 constituencies, polling will be held in 11,860 polling stations.