In view of the rising circumstances, Banerjee additionally tweeted an enchantment for the EC to carry the remaining phases of the eight-phased Assembly ballot in ‘one go’
Two days earlier than the fifth part of the eight-phased West Bengal Assembly election, the Election Commission dismissed hypothesis that the final three phases may very well be clubbed in view of the COVID-19 surge within the nation.
Hours after the EC’s assertion, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to the ballot panel to conduct the remaining phases in “one go”.
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Since Thursday morning, there was hypothesis within the media that the final three phases of the Assembly elections — scheduled for 22, 26, and 29 April — may very well be clubbed right into a single part.
“(There is) no such plan of clubbing phases,” an EC spokesperson clarified.
There are reviews that some political events might increase the difficulty at an all-party assembly known as by the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal on Friday, PTI reported. The assembly has been known as to make sure that COVID-19
tips issued by the EC are adhered to by political leaders throughout campaigning.
India registered a complete of 2,00,739 new COVID-19 circumstances in a span of 24 hours until eight am on Thursday.
In view of the rising circumstances, Banerjee tweeted that the ruling TMC had opposed the extended eight-phase ballot schedule.
The TMC supremo, in a tweet, mentioned that such a transfer needs to be taken in view of public curiosity.
Amid an ongoing pandemic, we firmly opposed @ECISVEEP‘s choice to conduct WB polls in eight phases.
Now, in view of the massive surge in #COVID19 circumstances, I urge the ECI to contemplate holding the remaining phases in ONE go. This will defend the individuals from additional publicity to #COVID19.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 15, 2021
Arrangements for the fifth part of polls, scheduled for Saturday, are already nearing completion, an election official was quoted as saying by PTI, at the same time as a number of social media customers held debates on whether or not the ballot panel ought to no less than conduct the following three phases of Bengal elections on a single day.
Mamata Banerjee holds roadshow in Kolkata forward of fifth part
Banerjee on Thursday held a roadshow within the state capital, as she sought to bolster the ruling TMC’s marketing campaign. She additionally wished individuals peace and prosperity on the event of the Bengali new yr.
Accompanied by Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan, Banerjee was seen greeting the group with safety personnel pushing her wheelchair.
TMC supremo led the 4-kilometre roadshow from Alochhaya cinema corridor within the Beleghata space of the town to Bowbazar and waved at enthusiastic individuals who gathered alongside the street.
Thousands of social gathering supporters took half within the rally and shouted slogans: “Didi, you go ahead, we are with you”, “Down with rioter BJP”, and “khela habe“.
She was additionally accompanied by TMC candidate from Belaghata Paresh Paul and social gathering’s nominee from Chowrangee seat Nayna Bandyopadhyay.
Addressing a gathering after the hour-long march, Banerjee made a robust pitch in favour of the TMC.
Additionally, Bachchan mentioned, “We do not want paribarton (change) in Bengal. Please re-elect Didi and help her carry on the development work to take the state to new heights.”
The Samajwadi Party MP, who has been campaigning for TMC candidates and participating in roadshows for over every week, additionally greeted individuals on the event of Bengali New yr.
“Khela habe. Didi is playing the game even with her injured leg,” Bachchan, who shares a rapport with the TMC chief for years and had earlier attended the inauguration programmes of the Kolkata International Film Festival, mentioned.
FIR in opposition to Banerjee over Cooch Behar deaths
An FIR has been lodged in opposition to Banerjee at a police station in Cooch Behar, alleging that she instigated voters to gherao Central forces and that, in flip, led to the incident of firing in Sitalkuchi and the following loss of life of 4 individuals.
Siddique Ali Mia, the zilla president of BJP’s minority cell in Cooch Behar, cited the TMC supremo’s feedback throughout a rally in Banerswar space as he filed a grievance on Wednesday claiming that her deal with provoked individuals to assault CISF personnel throughout the fourth part of state elections.
He connected a video clip of Banerjee’s speech in his grievance at Mathabhanga police station. Locals, after being provoked by such provocative statements of Mamata Banerjee, tried to grab hearth arms of the deployed paramilitary forces, Mia alleged.
“The said villagers including women launched attack upon the paramilitary forces with the intention of causing bodily injury, knowing it to be likely to cause death of the deployed paramilitary forces,” he wrote within the FIR, a replica of which is with the PTI.
The BJP chief, when contacted, mentioned he would launch a large protest demanding the chief minister’s arrest, if the police “sit idle” on the FIR within the subsequent few days.
“She is solely responsible for the death of those four people. She is answerable to all the voters of our district,” Mia said.
At least 4 individuals died outdoors a polling sales space within the Sitalkuchi Assembly constituency on 10 April when CISF personnel opened hearth in “self defence” allegedly after coming underneath assault from locals.
The Election Commission had suspended the voting train on the sales space following the incident.
In its assertion, the EC mentioned, “The joint report of the two special observers has been received … wherein they interalia stated that recourse to open fire by the CISF personnel became absolutely necessary in order to save the lives of the voters lined up at the polling booth, those of
other polling personnel and their own lives as the mob had attempted snatching their weapons.”
The ballot panel had additionally banned political leaders from coming into the district for 3 days.
Banerjee met the members of the family of these killed within the firing on Wednesday.
With inputs from PTI
