Kolkata, May 23 (Reporter) The high-pitch campaigning for the sixth phase Lok Sabha Election in Bengal came to an end at 6 PM on Thursday After witnessing over 77 percent polling in the fifth phase on May 20, West Bengal is heading for a crucial penultimate sixth phase election on May 25 in eight Lok Sabha seats of Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur where over 1,45 crore electorate are expected to take part in country's biggest democratic festival in six districts. Saturday's election holds huge significance, not only for the state but also for the nation, as it plays a crucial role in shaping the the political trajectory of one of India's most populous states. The BJP, however, has an edge over the ruling Trinamool Congress as the main opposition of the state had five seats and the ruling has three in the 2019 Parliament poll. Officials sources said some 145,34,228 voters, of them 71,70,822 women, have been enrolled to cast their votes in about 15,600 polling stations to elect eight winners among the 79 aspirants, majority of them are Independent candidates under the constant vigil of nearly 1000 companies of Central Armed Forces. The Election Commission of India (ECI) while announcing the polling schedules in mid-March reiterated that the poll panel this time is committed to ensuring free, fair, and fearless voting. Polling in the state has been conducted peacefully in the last five phases and no violence was reported from anywhere. In the 2021 Assembly poll in Bengal during the first phase, five people were killed and the toll rose after May 2 results. Bengal also witnessed bloody Panchayat polls in 2023 and these events made the ECI extra cautious for the General Elections. The poll panel has meticulously planned the polling schedules to ensure a smooth and efficient electoral process, which was opposed by the ruling party for prolonging the oppressive summer. The TMC and BJP are contesting in all seats, while the Left-Congress combine is contesting in eight segments, the CPI(M) in five, the Forward Bloc in one, and Congress in two. The contest will be mainly between Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the BJP, sources added. Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur constituencies serve as battlegrounds where candidates from different political parties vie for victory, aiming to secure their foothold in the state's political landscape before the 2026 state assembly poll. In Tamluk, Purba Medinipur will witness a triangular fight as TMC's Debanhshu Bhattacharyya, Justice (Retd)Abhijit Gangopadhyay (BJP), and Sayan Banerjee of the CPI(M) are in the fray. in Kanthi, also in Purba Medinipur, TMC's Uttam Barik, Soumendu Adhikari from BJP, the youngest brother of Suvendu Adhikari, and Urbashi Bhattacharya from the Congress would vie for the seat. The seat was held by Adhikari's father Sisir Adhikari, who won on TMC ticket in 2019 but the whole family's allegiance switched over to BJP after the eldest son joined the BJP in 2020. The Ghatal, also in Medinipur, where Tollywood superstar Dev and the sitting MP Dipak Adhikari seeks his reelection against his professional friend in the studios Hiranmay Chattopadhyay from the BJP. Papiya Chakraborty is from the grand old party also vying for victory. Once Maoist-dominated Jhargram, TMC's Kalipada Soren, Pranat Tudu from the BJP, and Sonamoni Murmu (Tudu) of the CPI(M) are in contention. The seat was held by the BJP's Kumar Hembram in 2019 but suddenly he quit politics . The Medinipur seat will witness actor June Malia of TMC pitted against Agnimitra Paul of BJP, a fashion designer-turned full-time politician for the past five years and CPI's Biplab Bhatta . Purulia, a former bastion of Maoists, where TMC's Shantiram Mahato is facing BJP's sitting MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato. Congress veteran Nepal Mahato is also in the fray. In neighbouring Bankura, which has acute water problems, TMC's Arup Chakraborty is in the run against sitting MP and Union Minister Dr. Subhash Sarkar. and Nilanjan Dasgupta of CPI(M) . Bishnupur, also in Bankura, will witnesses a keen contest where Sujata Khan (Mondal) faces her estranged husband and sitting MP Soumitra Khan from the BJP. Shital Kaibartya from the CPI(M) is also in the hustings. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has alerted the district administrations to keep all necessary arrangements in polling stations given the formation of Deep Depression ‘Remal’ over Central Bay of Bengal from May 23. The Commission has instructed the Coastal Districts Authorities to be prepared to meet any eventualities. Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal Dr. Arif Aftab on Wednesday reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting with the concerned District Authorities where State Disaster Management Secretary and Officials from Metrological Department were present...////...