Crowd at an election rally in Darjeeling, West Bengal. (Express photo by Partha Paul)In view of a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases, the Election Commission has decided to ban rallies, public meeting and streets play in poll-bound West Bengal from 7 pm to 10 am. The silence period for the remaining phases has also been extended from 48 hours to 72 hours.
During an all-party meeting called by the West Bengal CEO over the Covid-19 situation, the Left Front said that the poll schedule should be maintained. “Our point is that the schedule should be maintained. The election is in motion. There is no question of change of schedule at this point of time,” CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Bhattacharya was quoted saying by PTI after the meeting.
Out of the eight-phase assembly elections in the state, four phases have been completed and the remaining four are scheduled to be held between April 17 and 29.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that if the situation of infiltration continues in Bengal, it will pose a threat to the entire country. “Shouldn’t we stop infiltration in Bengal? Infiltrators take away jobs of our youth, snatch away foodgrain of the poor,” he said during a poll rally.
In other news, an FIR has been lodged against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her speech instigating voters to ‘gherao’ central forces in the state had ultimately led to the violent incident in Cooch Behar, where four villagers were shot dead by CISF personnel at a polling booth, PTI reported.
A heated political battle is brewing in West Bengal. Much has been written about the sociological dynamics and political implications of the polls. What has been relatively neglected is the resonance of the elections on the neighbourhood of eastern India.
The elections have been conducted amidst deteriorating relations between the state’s Hindu and Muslim populations. Religious polarisation between the two communities have become acute in recent years, as the BJP strives to extend its footprint in West Bengal on the back of discontentment among Hindu refugees fleeing religious persecution from neighbouring Bangladesh. Read more here.
RSP's Jangipur candidate Pradip Kumar Nandi died in a hospital in Bengal on Friday. Nandi had tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.
Keeping in mind the rise of Covid-19 cases across the country, the Election Commission Friday banned rallies, public meeting and streets plays in poll-bound West Bengal from 7 pm to 10 am.
BJP president JP Nadda Friday took out a roadshow in Kolkata North Suburban, West Bengal.
During an all-party meeting called by the West Bengal CEO over the Covid-19 situation, the Left Front said that the poll schedule should be maintained.
"Our point is that the schedule should be maintained. The election is in motion. There is no question of change of schedule at this point of time," CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Bhattacharya was quoted saying by PTI after the meeting.
Out of the eight-phase assembly elections in the state, four phases have been completed and the remaining four are scheduled to be held between April 17 and 29.
Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah Friday took out a roadshow in Barrackpore, West Bengal.
An all-party meeting was called by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) over the alarming Covid-19 situation in West Bengal. According to PTI, West Bengal CEO Aariz Aftab called the all-party meeting following the Calcutta High Courts direction to him and all district magistrates of the state to ensure strict implementation of COVID-19 protocol during campaigning for the remaining phases of the election.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday said she will call upon the Election Commission to stop the BJP from bringing "outsiders" during campaigning, squarely blaming the saffron party for exacerbating the Covid-19 situation in the state.
Banerjee, during a poll meeting in Nadia district, said the BJP brought people from "worst-hit" states like Gujarat for erecting marquees for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll rallies.
"I will tell the EC to stop the inflow of outsiders from states like Gujarat who are responsible for the COVID-19 spread in Bengal.
"We have nothing to say if the PM or other leaders come for campaigning... Why should the BJP bring people from worst-affected states to set up podiums and pandals for rallies," she said. (PTI)
Following an all-party meeting with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) West Bengal, BJP leader Swapan Das Gupta said that he has assured EC that his party (BJP) will adhere to all Covid-related protocols. "We've advised EC to balance the need for a robust democratic culture with safety norms. It is up to the EC to tell us what exactly political parties must do," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday held a roadshow in West Bengal's Krishnanagar north for BJP candidate Mukul Roy.
At least five candidates of different parties contesting the ongoing assembly election in West Bengal have tested positive for Covid-19, news agency PTI reported citing health department official. Out of the five candidates who tested positive, three are from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and one each from the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), officials said.
West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer is holding an all-party meeting to discuss Covid-safe campaigning strategies amid a surge in cases.
Speaking at an election rally in Tehatta, West Bengal, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Shouldn't we stop infiltration in Bengal? Infiltrators take away jobs of our youth, snatch away foodgrain of the poor. If the situation of infiltration continues in Bengal, then believe me, it'll pose a threat to not only Bengal but the entire country."
Concerned about a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged the Election Commission (EC) to consider clubbing the remaining four phases and conduct the elections at one go. The poll body, however, dismissed the demand, saying it was “legally difficult”.
Elections have been held for 135 constituencies so far, and the remaining 159 seats are set to go to the polls between April 17 and 29.
“Amid an ongoing pandemic, we firmly opposed @ECISVEEP’s decision to conduct WB polls in 8 phases. Now, in view of the huge surge in #COVID19 cases, I urge the ECI to consider holding the remaining phases in ONE go. This will protect the people from further exposure to #COVID19,” Banerjee tweeted ahead of the fifth phase that will be held on Saturday. Read the report here.
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An FIR has been lodged against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a police station here, alleging that she instigated voters to gherao central forces and that, in turn, led to the incident of firing in Sitalkuchi and the subsequent death of four persons.
Siddique Ali Mia, the zilla president of BJP's minority cell in Cooch Behar, cited the TMC supremo's comments during a rally in Banerswar area as he filed a complaint on Wednesday claiming that her address provoked people to attack CISF personnel during the fourth phase of state elections.
He attached a video clip of Banerjee's speech in his complaint at Mathabhanga police station. (PTI)
The Election Commission Thursday imposed a 24-hour campaigning ban on West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh over his remark that more "Cooch Behar-like killings may happen if naughty boys like the ones who received bullets in Sitalkuchi" try to take the law into their hands.
People seen flouting social distancing rules at Mamata Banerjee's rally in Kolkata Thursday. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)
Actor and Samajwadi Party leader Jaya Bachchan (in red cap) attends a roadshow with TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in Sealdah during the campaigning for West Bengal Assembly elections. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)
The Election Commission has said there is no such plan of clubbing the remaining phases of West Bengal elections.
Congress candidate Rezaul Haque, who tested positive for COVID-19 two days ago, died at a hospital here early on Thursday, health department sources said.
Haque, 46, the party's nominee from Samsherganj assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, was initially admitted to a private hospital in Jangipur on Wednesday following bouts of breathing trouble, they said.
He was later referred to a medical facility in Kolkata after his condition deteriorated at night. (PTI)
Rezaul Haque, the Congress' candidate from Samsherganj in Murshidabad district passed away at a hospital in Kolkata earlier this morning. He had tested positive for Covid-19. (ANI)
Addressing his first election rally in West Bengal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the BJP wants to destroy Bengal’s culture and divide the people, and is doing the “same thing” in Assam and Tamil Nadu.
Speaking in Goalpokhar in North Dinajpur district, Gandhi said the BJP has nothing to offer “except for hatred, violence and divisive politics”. “The BJP wants to destroy Bengal’s culture, heritage and divide the people. In Assam, they are doing the same thing; in Tamil Nadu, they are trying to do the same thing with their alliance partner AIADMK,” he said.
Taking a dig at BJP’s ‘Sonar Bangla’ slogan, Gandhi described it as a “mirage” and said the party sells the same dream before every election. “In every state, the BJP says similar things like they will build a Sonar Bangla. But they only divide people on the basis of religion, caste and language,” he said. Read the report here.
BJP president JP Nadda on Wednesday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being “anti-Dalit” for not yet condemning a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader’s derogatory comment about people from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities.
“Today is Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s 130th birth anniversary. Recently, a TMC leader used a derogatory remark against Dalit brothers that I can’t say here. I am sad to see that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is yet to condemn it. This is nothing but the TMC’s anti-Dalit face,” Nadda said at an event in New Town.
Sujata Mondal Khan, the TMC candidate from Arambagh in Hooghly district, recently equated people from SC communities with beggars. Read the report here.
Reacting to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of spreading Covid-19 in the state, BJP leader Smriti Irani said, "I am shocked to hear that she is abusing Modi Ji and Amit Shah Ji for the pandemic. But this is Mamata Banerjee's 'sanskar'. Modi Ji addresses her as 'didi' but she abuses our leadership from public platforms."
A bike rally, led by BJP’s Baranagar candidate Parno Mittra, was allegedly attacked by TMC supporters on Wednesday afternoon as campaigning for the fifth phase came to an end.
“Our procession was attacked in a planned manner. Every day, TMC workers were trying to disrupt our campaign by chanting the ‘go back’ slogan. However, we never responded to their provocation. Today, was the last day of the campaigning and TMC supporters attacked our people. Several of them were beaten up badly. They even tried to attack me and my vehicle,” said Mittra.
“It was a peaceful rally. There were no central forces,” Mittra added.
However, the TMC denied that its supporters were behind the alleged attack and hit out at the BJP for holding an “illegal” bike rally. The party also claimed that one of its woman leaders was injured by BJP workers. Read the report here.
With the 72-hour ban imposed by the Election Commission (EC) on entry of political leaders into Cooch Behar over, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday morning visited families of the four killed in CISF firing at Sitalkuchi on April 10 and promised that after the TMC returns to power, she would hold a probe into the firing and punish the guilty.
Addressing a rally in Dabgram-Fulbari of Jalpaiguri afterward, Banerjee alleged that the BJP is “spreading Covid-19” in the state by bringing in leaders and cadres from other states.
“These BJP leaders are coming and will spread Covid-19 in the state and then go away,” she said. “Last year, when Covid-19 was spreading in the state, no BJP leaders cared to come here to address that.” Read the report here.
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