WB polls: Over 45 percent voting recorded till 11 a.m.

Around 45.88 percent voter turnout was recorded on Thursday till 11 a.m. in the sixth and final phase of West Bengal assembly polls.

The polling began today at 7 a.m. for 25 constituencies in the two districts of East Midnapore and Coochbehar amidst strict security.

Earlier today, Murshidabad Trinamool Congress district secretary Subir Sarkar was shot at in Baharampur district of West Bengal. He was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries.

Under this phase, 25 assembly seats, including 16 in Purba Medinipur and nine in Coochbehar districts, are going to polls.

Over 58 lakh voters will decide political fate of 170 candidates, including 18 women.

6,774 polling stations have been set up. Maintaining a tight security cover, the poll panel has deployed 361 companies of central forces who are assisted by a contingent of 12,000 state police personnel.

In all, 67 candidates are in the fray for nine seats in Coochbehar, 12 of them independents.

In Purba Medinipur, a total of 103 candidates are vying for 16 seats including 12 independents.

Counting of votes for all 194 constituencies will be held on May 19.