Amid the nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases, the next round of 'Khela' will begin in West Bengal as 45 seats will go to polls on Saturday in phase five of the multi-phased election.
45 constituencies covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman will vote in phase-V in which a total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the fray.
Ahead of the fifth phase polling, the Election Commission decided to curtail the timings of campaigning for the remaining phases and extended the silence period to 72 hours for each of the phases.
In its order, the EC said: "No rallies, public meetings, street plays, Nukkad sabhas, shall be allowed on any day during the days of campaign between 7 pm and 10 am with effect from 7 pm of 16.4.2021."