The BJP strongly rejected Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s charge that it has entered into a clandestine agreement with the CPI(M) to divide anti-Left vote. “Ms Banerjee is worried about the growing strength of the BJP in the state which is why she has been trying to associate us with the Left Front. Baseless claims are

Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that she will release all political prisoners who had been arrested on false charges, after she came to power. “As soon as this (Left Front) government is dislodged from power, we will review all cases where people had been put behind bars vindictively on false charges.

Accusing CPI(M) MP from Bolpur Ramchandra Dom of giving cash to villagers to vote for party candidate in Sainthia Assembly seat, Dhiren Bagdi, the Trinamul Congress on Friday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. It has demanded a thorough investigation and even arrest of Mr Dom. The Trinamul Congress chief Mamata

spread over three districts in the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.

In many booths, women outnumbered men in the queues.

There were no reports of any untoward incident, said an of

Sixteen per cent polling was recorded in the first two hours of voting in 50 constituencies in three districts of West Bengal today.

"In the first two hours, polling was 16 per cent. There was no

Long queues of people were seen before polling booths on Saturday morning as voting began in 50 constituencies spread over three districts — Murshidabad, Nadia and Birbhum — in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

36 % polling was recorded in the first four hours of voting in 50 Assembly constituencies in three districts in the second phase in West Bengal on Saturday.

Around 65 per cent of votes were cast in a brisk and peaceful polling in 50 constituencies across three districts in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Saturday.

A fast-track court in Kolkata on Thursday ordered to frame industrialist Ashok Todi, his brother Pradip, their relative Anil Saraogi and their middleman Syed Mohiuddin, alias Pappu, for trial on abetment to suicide, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy charges for allegedly driving computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rehman to end his life.

Apprehending that large scale political violence may break out after the announcement of the poll results on May 13, the state administration has decided to request the Centre to deploy the Central paramilitary forces for the purpose of maintaining law and order even after the elections are over. “We want that some of the companies of the Central forces should stay back in the state for at least 10 days after the announcement of the results,” a senior official of the state home department said.