West Bengal polls Phase 5: voting in 45 seats in 6 districts today

Voting is being held for the fifth phase of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 today across 45 constituencies spread over six districts.

As many as 319 candidates, including 39 women, are in the fray in the fifth phase. This phase is crucial for TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, since these are the regions where the BJP gained a significant foothold in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

This phase also includes the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, where shifting equations with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) may open up new electoral possibilities this year, say political analysts.

On the other hand, the Sanyukta Morcha, consisting of the Left Front and the Congress have also joined hands with Abbas Siddiqui's Indian Secular Front (ISF) to regain lost fronts in several of the districts in the fray.