LS polls: BJP faces uphill battle against Mamata in last phase, show data

The Trinamool Congress had in 2014 won all the nine parliamentary seats that go to the polls in the final phase on May 19; the BJP had stood third in 6, fourth in 1, and second in two

In an unprecedented move, the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday cut short campaigning for the last phase of polling in West Bengal by nearly a day. The nine affected Lok Sabha seats in the state are all held by the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) at present and are seen as a challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The EC order, issued after the bust of Bengal renaissance leader Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was vandalised — both the BJP and AITC have accused each other for this — will draw the curtains on campaigning in Barasat, Basirhat, Diamond Harbour, Dum Dum,