Notification for first phase of Bengal polls on Friday

Kolkata: The Election Commission will issue notification on Friday for the first phase of West Bengal assembly polls, kickstarting the filing of nominations for 18 seats in three Left Wing Extremists hit districts.

The polls to the 18 seats in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts will be held on April 4.

The last date for filing nominations for this phase is March 18.

The scrutiny of nominations will take place the next day. March 21 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidature.

Six of the seats are in West Midnapore, nine in Purulia and three in Bankura districts.

Deputy Chief Electoral officer Amitjyoti Bhattacharya told reporters that the poll panel was utilising the services of folk artistes in the districts to ensure the state continued its tradition of huge voter turnout,a s was seen in previous elections.