Kolkata, June 08: By-elections to the Nabadwip Lok Sabha seat and the Vidyasagar assembly constituency in West Bengal got underway this morning amid tight security. Polling has been peaceful so far in both constituencies.
Deputy inspector general of police Narayan Ghosh said that voting started peacefully at 8 am at Nabadwip seat in Nadia district, where 60 per cent of the total 1647 booths were declared sensitive and 8000 policemen deployed.
Counting of votes would be taken up on June 11. The Nabadwip Lok Sabha seat, reserved for scheduled caste candidates, fell vacant following the death of Ananda Mohan Biswas. By-election to the Vidyasagar constituency became necessary after the passing away of the sitting candidate Lakshmi Dey, who was government chief whip in the state assembly. An estimated 13,57,861 voters would exercise their franchise for the by-poll in Nabadwip LS constituency, while an estimated 99,341 voters are expected to cast their ballots in 137 booths to elect their candidate for the Vidyasagar assembly constituency.
Abir Ranjan Biswas, son of the deceased TC MP is a contender in the eight-cornered contest for the Nabadwip seat. The others in the fight are CPI-M`s Alokesh Das and Congress` Rajani Doloi, besides a BSP candidate and four independents.
At the Vidyasagar assembly seat CPI-M`s Anadi Sahu and Congress candidate Mohua Mondal, daughter of suspended TC MP Ajit Panja, are locked in a tough fight in a eight cornered contest. BJP candidate for the seat is Ashok Sinha. He is being backed by poll ally TC. A BSP candidate and four independents are also in the fray.
Bureau Report