KOLKATA:  Voting began on Thursday in 152 constituencies in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, amid unprecedented security arrangements and a high-stakes battle that could shape the direction of the entire contest.

Polling started at 7 am with voters queueing up outside booths in districts ranging from Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the north to Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum and Hooghly in the south.

The opening round covers more than half of the state’s 294 assembly seats and is being seen as the BJP’s best opportunity to make an early breakthrough and the ruling Trinamool Congress’ most important test in its bid for a fourth consecutive term.