Kolkata/Chennai, April 23 -- Voting began on Thursday, April 23, in 152 constituencies in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections and all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, amid unprecedented security arrangements and high-stakes battles.

According to the Election Commission, over 3.60 crore electors are eligible to vote in this phase in West Bengal, including around 1.75 crore women and 465 third-gender voters. A record 2,450 companies of central paramilitary forces, comprising nearly 2.5 lakh personnel, have been deployed across the state for the polls, with over 8,000 polling stations identified as highly sensitive.

Tamil Nadu's electorate is 5.73 crore strong and they will vote in as many as 75,064 polling stat...