Kolkata, Mar 11 (PTI) Following are PTI's top stories

Following are PTI's top stories from the eastern region at 9 pm. STORIES ON THE WIRE: CAL1 WB-TMC-SEATS TMC to field 10-12 new faces in LS polls: sources Kolkata: At least 10-12 new faces are likely to find a place in the Trinamool Congress candidate list for Lok Sabha polls, party sources said Monday.

CAL1 WB-MAMATA-LD CANDIDATE LIST Protracted poll to facilitate another "strike": Mamata Kolkata: In controversial remarks, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday appeared to suggest that the long-drawn Lok Sabha election process was intended to facilitate yet another "strike" as part of the BJP's "gameplan to disturb" her state. CES5 BH-POLL-OPPN Oppn parties question staggering of LS polls in Bihar, allege EC wants to help NDA Patna: Opposition parties in Bihar on Monday questioned the Election Commissions decision to spread Lok Sabha polls in the state over seven phases and alleged that voting has been staggered with a view to enabling extensive electioneering by the ruing NDAs main crowd-puller - Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

CES7 POLL-AS-VOTERS Over 2.17 crore voters in Assam: CEO Guwahati: Over 2.17 crore people will be eligible to vote in the three-phase Lok Sabha election in Assam, including 7.06 lakh first time voters, a top election official said here Monday. CES8 AR-CONGRESS-MLA Cong MLA joins BJP in Arunachal Itanagar: A Congress MLA in Arunachal Pradesh defected to the BJP on Monday, a day after the Election Commission announced simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state on April 11.

CES9 MZ-LOKAYUKTA Mizoram's first Lokayukta chairman sworn-in Aizawl: Retired IAS officer C Lalsawta was sworn-in as the first Chairman of the newly-constituted Lokayukta in Mizoram on Monday, officials said. CES10 DEF-EASTERN THEATRE Chiefs of Air Force, Army's eastern commands discuss security situation Kolkata: The chiefs of the Air Force and the Army's eastern commands have held a meeting to discuss the security situation prevailing in the eastern theatre, an official said Monday.

CES11 MG-ASSEMBLY-PUNJAB Punjab govt giving funds directly for sikhs benefit in a Shillong locality resented Shillong: The Meghalaya government on Monday took exception to its Punjab counterpart providing funds for benefit of people residing in Punjabi Lane here without informing the state government. CES12 JH-POLL-CEO Candidates shall disclose criminal cases through print/electronic media: CEO Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer L Khiangte Monday said that it is mandatory for candidates filing nominations for the Lok Sabha elections in the state to disclose criminal cases against them through print/electronic media two days ahead of their nomination..