Kolkata, Jan 5: Voting for by-poll to Nandigram assembly seat began today amidst tight security.

The polling will decide the fate of six contestants. The main contenders are Parmananda Bharati of CPI and Firoza Bibi of Trinamool Congress.

The by-poll has been necessitated after the resignation of CPI MLA Muhammad Ilyas following a sting operation exposing his alleged involvement in a corruption case.

Earlier, the polling was scheduled to be held on December 30, but it was postponed due to security considerations.

Around 15,000 central forces have been deployed at 176 polling booths, which were declared sensitive. The polling process in all of them will be recorded on camera.

Seven companies (each company 1000) of BSF and eight companies of CRPF have been deployed in Nandigram I and Nandigram II blocks.

Besides, 2000 policemen have also been pressed into service.

The counting of votes will take place on Friday. (ANI)