Kolkata, April 15 -- With just over a week left for the first phase of polls in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced a massive deployment of central forces to ensure free and fair polling, even as the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP on Wednesday engaged in a sharp exchange of accusations.
The day added an extra layer of significance to the intensifying poll campaign as it marked Poila Baisakh - the Bengali New year. Candidates were seen wishing voters and distributing colourful "Subha Nababarsha" (Happy Bengali New Year) cards.
Meanwhile, the ECI began the process of door-to-door distribution of Voter Information Slips. The first of the two-phase election in West Bengal covering 152 of the 294 seats is slate...