LS polls: 6 nominations filed for first 2 phases in Bengal

Altogether six nominations -- two each for three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal -- were filed for the first two phases of the general elections, a state Election Commission official said on Tuesday.

The All India Forward Bloc and one other registered political party filed nominations for Coochbehar, while the RSP and one other registered party submitted the papers for Alipurduar seat in the first phase, the state's Additional Chief Election Commissioner Sanjay Basu told reporters here.

For the second phase, notification for which was published by the Election Commission on Tuesday, the BSP and the SUCI filed the papers for the Jalpaiguri constituency.

While Coochbehar and Alipurduar go to polls on April 11 in the first phase, polling will be held in Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Raiganj constituencies in the second phase on April 18.

He also said that Rs 23.80 lakh has been seized from two persons at Kumarganj police station area in Balurghat district by the EC's static surveillance team.

A total of Rs 68.17 lakh has been recovered in West Bengal so far, Basu said.

He added that a two-day mass awareness programme is being held for voters at the booth level from Tuesday, on how the EVM and VVPAT machines function.