WB polls: Around 25 percent voter turnout recorded

The fifth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections witnessed around 25 percent polling during the first few hours of polling, with several prominent personalities like former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose' grand nephew Chandra Bose casting their votes.

Trinamool Congress MP and spokesman Derek O' Brein, after casting his vote from Ballygunge constituency expressed confidence of his party's win in the election.

Amid tight security, the fifth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections for 53 seats in 24 Parganas Dakshin, Hooghly and Kolkata Dakshin districts began here on Saturday at 7 a.m.

The polling is being held for 31 constituencies in 24 Parganas Dakshin, 18 in Hooghly and four in Kolkata Dakshin.

About 1.24 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise to elect their representative from 349 candidates, including 43 women, at 14, 642 polling booths, including 1075 model booths and 390 ladies booths.

As many as 680 companies of central forces have been deployed in all the three poll-bound districts for smooth polling.

Strict Nakabandi checks are on in the poll bound districts. As many as 22,000 personnel of the Bengal Police have also been put on election duty.

The Central Security Forces have taken special measures to dominate the 5,298 sensitive pockets by launching day-night vigil and nak-checks.

Among others, Trinamool Congress chairperson and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bharatiya Janata Party's Chandra Kumar Bose and the Left-supported Congress candidate Deepa Das Munshi are in the fray from Bhawanipur constituency in Kolkata Dakshin.