All set for Assembly polls across Darjeeling Hills

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING, : With polling personnel heading to their assigned booths on Wednesday, the stage is set for the Assembly polls in the Hills and parts of Bengal, marking the start of the first phase on Thursday.

Polling personnel were seen leaving for their respective booths from various dispersion and receipt centres set up across Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. The team assigned to Samanden - the only P-2 polling booth in Bengal - also reached the location on Wednesday.

Darjeeling district, comprising five Assembly constituencies (ACs), has a total of 1,517 polling stations, including main and auxiliary booths, spread across 1,050 locations. Kalimpong district, which comprises only the Kalimpong AC, has 298 polling stations across 251 locations. Some booths will be manned exclusively by women personnel, while a few have been designated as model polling stations with additional facilities for voters. The voting process for senior citizens above 85 years of age has already been completed.

The total number of voters in Darjeeling district is pegged at 11,10,425. Of these, Darjeeling AC accounts for 2,07,716 voters and Kurseong for 2,16,152. Among the constituencies in the plains, Matigara-Naxalbari has 2,68,480 voters, Siliguri 2,00,779, and Phansidewa 2,17,298. The district also has 7,739 service electors and 7,662 persons with disabilities (PWD) registered as voters.

In Kalimpong AC, the electorate stands at around 2,01,619, including 1,857 service voters and 2,509 PWD electors.

This time, Darjeeling AC has six candidates in the fray, while Kurseong and Kalimpong ACs have seven candidates each.

In Darjeeling, the candidates include Noman Rai (BJP), Madhap Rai (INC), Bijoy Kumar Rai (BGPM), and Milan Thokar (Rastriya Aam Jan Seva Party). Ajoy Edwards, though contesting as an independent, is backed by the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF). Jatin Ghalay is the other independent candidate.

In Kurseong AC, Uttam Brahmin represents the CPI(M), Saroj Kumar Khatri the INC, Sonam Lama the BJP, and Amar Lama the BGPM. Independent candidate Bandana Rai is backed by the IGJF, while Mohan Sharma and Sumendra Tamang are also contesting as independents.

In Kalimpong, the BJP has fielded Bharat Kumar Chettri, CPI(M) has nominated Rita Thapa, and the INC has put up Santa Kumar Pradhan. Sitting MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha is contesting on a BGPM ticket, while Sisir Kumar Sharma represents the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League. Independent candidate Bhernone Britto Lepcha is backed by the IGJF, and Aldrin Lepcha is also contesting as an independent.