The phase 1-A of the West Bengal elections has begun. Here is a quick fact sheet:
 

•          Of the total 294 constituencies, polling is taking place in 18 of them in phase 1-A
   
•          A total of 133 candidates are contesting on the 18 seats
   
•          Of the 294 constituencies, 68 are reserved for the scheduled castes and 16 for the scheduled tribes
   
•          An electorate of about 40 lakh is eligible to exercise its franchise in 4,945 polling stations in phase 1-A
   
•          The West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee continues to be the chief ministerial candidate from TMC in the current elections
   
•          In the last assembly elections, TMC had won 184 seats. Congress won 42 seats followed by CPI(M) with 40 seats. The BJP could not win any seat in the last assembly elections
   
•          In 2011, the number of electors were nearly 5.60 crore. This has increased to about 6.55 crore in the current elections        
   
•          There will be a total of 77,247 polling stations in the state for all the six phases
   
•          For the first time, electronic voting machines will be carrying a symbol for NOTA
   
•          Counting of votes will take place on May 19