Turn out in 'record numbers', PM tells voters as phase 2 of WB polls begins

Birbhum: The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections began here on Sunday with beefed up security, including adequate deployment of Central paramilitary forces.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all voters to turn out in large numbers.

"As Phase II of the West Bengal polls begins, I urge all those voting today to turnout in record numbers & vote," he tweeted.

383 candidates including 33 women are in the fray for the 56 seats spread in seven districts.

About One crore 21 lakh people are enrolled for the second round of polling to vote for 5 constituencies in Alipurduar, 7 in Jalpaiguri, 6 in Darjeeling, 9 in Uttar Dinajpur, 6 in Dakshin Dinajpur, 12 in Malda and 11 in Birbhum districts.

More than 13 thousand 600 polling stations have been put up including 311 model booths.

Read: EC puts TMC leader Anubrata Mondal under surveillance

Voting at two polling stations in Malda was delayed by 20 minutes due to technical problem in EVM

Besides the general and Police observers, 1563 micro observers will keep watch during the polling today.

A BJP delegation yesterday called on the state CEO in Kolkata and demanded that the West Bengal Chief Secretary be removed from his post for answering a Notice of the Election Commission on behalf of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Commission had show-caused Banerjee for her utterances which were made by her as a TMC leader at an electoral rally.

Read: I will continue to do or say as I like: Mamata slams EC

The delegation insisted that by answering on Banerjee's behalf the top official has worked as her party agent.

The Chief Secretary had sent the reply yesterday that Banerjee did not violate the election code by her speech to make Asansol a separate district.

The decision to this effect was taken by the state cabinet on 18th December and the issue was discussed in the Assembly, well before the election dates were announced.