Balurghat Gears Up for Second Phase of Polling
Balurghat, a city in West Bengal's Dakshin Dinajpur district, is preparing for the second phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. District Magistrate Bijin Krishna has identified 280 polling stations in the city as critical, considering past issues.
"Voting in Balurghat is usually peaceful," Krishna said. "However, due to some past incidents, we have identified around 280 polling stations as critical. We have taken all necessary precautions and followed all procedures related to EVMs in the presence of candidates and party representatives."
Krishna assured that any grievances will be addressed promptly.
Political Landscape in West Bengal
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has traditionally held a strong position in West Bengal. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, they secured 34 seats, while the BJP won only 2. The CPI (M) and Congress won 2 and 4 seats, respectively.
However, the 2019 elections saw a significant shift. The BJP won 18 seats, while the TMC's seat count reduced to 22. The Congress's representation was reduced to 2 seats, and the Left Front failed to secure any seats.
With recent controversies surrounding the TMC, including arrests of leaders in the primary teachers' recruitment scam and alleged attacks on central agencies, the BJP sees an opportunity to emerge as the largest party in the state.
Upcoming Polling Schedule
The first phase of polling has concluded in Coochbehar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri constituencies, where the BJP won all seats in the 2019 elections.
Voting for the remaining constituencies will be held on April 26, May 4, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The votes will be counted on June 4.