Kolkata, May 7 (IANS) Polling for the fifth and penultimate phase of the West Bengal assembly elections began amid tight security Saturday morning and proceeded peacefully in 38 constituencies spread over four districts, three of them Maoist-hit.

Parts of West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia and Burdwan district went to polls at 7 a.m.

Over 74 lakh people are eligible to vote in 9,425 booths in the seats spread over Burdwan and Maoist-hit West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts.

Two helicopters are doing aerial surveillance in the forest areas and remote corners of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. "Poling is on peacefully. There are no reports of untoward incidents," said an officer manning the state police control room here.

Polling to decide the fate of 193 candidates is being held in 12 seats of West Midnapore, five in Purulia, nine in Bankura, and 12 in Burdwan in this phase covering 9,425 booths.

Around 550-600 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed for polling.

Among the heavy-weights in the fray are state Health Minister Surjya Kanta Mishra and state Congress president Manas Bhuniya.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) is contesting 32 seats, the Communist Party of India (CPI) (1), Forward Bloc (3), the Trinamool Congress (33), the Congress (5) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (38).

Polls for the 294-member assembly, which started April 18, will end May 10 with the sixth phase.

Polling has been completed in 242 seats in the first four phases. The counting of votes will take place May 13.