Bengal and Assam began voting today in the first phase of Assembly elections for each state. In Bengal, the ruling Trinamool and the opposition BJP - who have waged an often vicious campaign over the past few weeks - will each be eager to make a strong start.

Polling booths across both states opened at 7 am and close at 6 pm; polling has been extended by an hour due to the Covid pandemic. In Assam, a voter turnout of 26.37 percent was recorded till noon whereas in Bengal the turnout was 36.09 percent.

In Bengal over 73 lakh voters from five districts - all of Purulia and Jhargram, and parts of Bankura, West Medinipur, and East Medinipur - will cast their votes, with around 10,200 booths set up. In Assam, around 81 lakh will vote across Upper Assam and parts of Central Assam, with over 11,000 booths set up.

Of the 30 seats in Bengal, the BJP is contesting 29; one has been given to the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU). The Trinamool will also contest 29 and support an independent candidate for the other seat. The Congress will contest only five seats. Its allies - the Left parties - will contest the majority; the CPM will fight 18 and the CPI 4.

On the other hand In Assam, the BJP is contesting 39 of 47 seats in this phase and ally AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) 10. The two parties will go head-to-head in a "friendly contest" in two seats. The Congress - party of a `mahajot` (grand alliance) - will contest 43, with one each for the AIDUF of Badruddin Ajmal, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the AGM and the CPIML. A third option is the fledgling Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), which was formed last year by the All Assam Students` Union and the Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people in Assam and Bengal to go out in large numbers and cast their votes. Similarly, he urged Bengal voters to "exercise their franchise in record numbers".

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