State Election Commission Secretary Nilangan Sandelia said all necessary measures have been taken to ensure free and fair elections.
Live Updates on Kolkata Municipal Assembly Elections: Polling is currently taking place in all 144 wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols amid tight security arrangements. State Election Commission Secretary Nilangan Sandelia said all necessary measures have been taken to ensure free and fair elections. He said that voting is taking place in 4,959 polling booths and will continue until 5 pm.
An officer in the force said that around 23,000 Kolkata police have been deployed across the city, road rallies and area control exercises have been held in different parts of the capital. He said more than 200 police sit-ins were held at crucial points across the city.
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The Trinamool Congress is looking to maintain its streak of victories in the state in the December 19 elections, especially as the BJP continues to reeling from its range of defeat in the assembly elections, and defections from its ranks to the TMC since then.
The ruling Trinamool Congress is fighting to retain the civil assembly for the third consecutive term, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is vying for the CPI (M) to secure the second place. TMC swept all 16 cluster sectors in the capital in this year’s assembly election. Votes will be counted on December 21.