KOLKATA: The Election Commission today issued notification for first part of the first phase of West Bengal Assembly election on April 4, starting the process of filing nominations in 18 seats.
No nomination papers were filed on the first day today, the state's Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu Sarkar said.
Voters in this phase would be able to exercise their franchise from 7 AM to 4 PM.
Various observers for this phase of polling would arrive here in a day or two, Sarkar said.
Candidates contesting for this phase will be able to file their nominations up to March 18, while scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on March 19 and the date of withdrawal will end on March 21, he said.
"Arrangement for the phase of polling for 18 seats under Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) areas in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts is in final stage," Sarkar said.
The four-step non-CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) measures comprising micro-observers, normal camera, video camera and webcasting would be there in this phase, he said.
West Bengal is going to poll in six phases, of which the first phase will be held in two parts - April 4 and 11.
The full bench of the Election Commission led by the Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi would arrive here on March 14 to review poll preparedness.
Apart from meeting all contesting political parties, the CEC would meet the DMs, SPs and other senior officials in the state besides mediapersons.
Deputy Election Commissioner in-charge of West Bengal Sandeep Saxena will be arriving here before the visit of the full bench to prepare ground work for CEC's visit, Sarkar said.
Meanwhile, a team of third-year students of Calcutta University today called on officials at CEO's office here to express their concern on the dates of examination during the polling process.
Sarkar said the Commission has assured them of all cooperation so that they could reach their examination centres without difficulty, but the changes in exam schedule could only be done by the University authority.