Bengal election news

 Bengal election news

PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee Go Virtual After EC Restricts Campaigning In Bengal Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee late on Thursday evening decided to carry out virtual campaigns for the remaining two phases of assembly polls after the Election Commission (EC) issued fresh restrictions on assembly of people in the wake of the sharp spike in coronavirus infections in West Bengal. The EC imposed a blanket ban on roadshows, processions and motorcycle and bicycle rallies and said no more than 500 people would be allowed at public meetings where social distancing norms have to be maintained. The order came into force at 7 pm. Before the order was issued, Modi had cancelled the four rallies he was to address in Bengal on Friday. “Tomorrow, will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing Covid-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal,” Modi tweeted at 5.24 pm. He was supposed to address a rally at the Shahid Minar grounds in the heart of Kolkata. At 9.15 pm, Banerjee tweeted, “In the wake of upsurge in #Covid-19 cases across the country and the ECI order dated 22nd April, 2021, I am cancelling all my prescheduled meetings and we will reach out to the people virtually. We will be sharing the updated schedule of the virtual meetings shortly.” A few minutes later, Bengal BJP president issued a statement saying the Prime Minister would address voters virtually. “The Prime Minister has had to cancel his visit to Bengal on April 23, in which he was scheduled to address four rallies across four districts and 56 assembly constituencies….The Prime Minister will be addressing voters of West Bengal, particularly voters of Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Kolkata, through a virtual medium at 5 pm on April 23,” said Ghosh. On Thursday, the sixth phase of polling took place amid a spike in coronavirus infections. The state reported 11,948 new cases on Thursday and 56 people died between Wednesday and Thursday morning. Thank you for subscribing to our daily newsletter. West Bengal Assembly Elections | ECI Bans Road Shows, Caps Attendance At Public Meetings At 500 The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday banned road shows and vehicle rallies as well as large public meetings with more than 500 people for the remaining phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections after finding that political parties and candidates were flouting COVID-19 guidelines. The Election Commission said in an order that it “noted with anguish that many political parties/candidates are still not adhering to the prescribed safety norms during the public gatherings and this is making difficult for the State/dstrict election machineries to enforce the aforesaid directions fully”. Starting 7 p.M. On Thursday, the EC said no road show/padyatras; cycle, bike and vehicle rallies; and public meetings with more than 500 people would be allowed. “Permission for road show, cycle/bike/vehicle rally, if granted already, stands withdrawn. Permission for public meeting, if granted already, stands modified to the extent above,” the EC said. The ECI had issued guidelines for polling and campaigning during the pandemic in August 2020 and extended the same for the West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala elections. After finding violations of the guidelines, including on social distancing and mask-wearing, the EC had issued a warning to parties on April 9. It had banned rallies, public meetings, street plays and nukkad sabhas from 7 pm to 10 am starting April 16 and extended the silence period from 48 hours before polling to 72 hours, reducing the campaigning period. The EC had warned political parties again on Wednesday. West Bengal Elections: 79% Turnout In 6th Phase; EC Imposes Stricter Curbs For Remaining Phases NEW DELHI: Polling for the sixth phase of tightly-contested West Bengal polls was held on Thursday. At least 79.09% voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in 43 assembly constituencies of the state.Polling was held between 7 am and 6.30 pm at 14,480 polling stations in 17 assembly constituencies in North 24 Parganas district, nine each in Nadia and Uttar Dinajpur districts and eight in Purba Bardhaman district.An election worker checks the body temperature of a voter at a polling station during the sixth phase of West Bengal assembly elections. (AFP photo)Among the four districts, Nadia registered the highest voter turnout of 82.67%, followed by Purba Bardhaman (82.15%), Uttar Dinajpur (77.76%) and North 24 Parganas (75.94%), a senior official of the CEOs office said.Violence mars the sixth phase of Bengal pollsSporadic incidents of violence marred the sixth phase of polling in the state.A huge mob of about 250 people attacked security personnel outside a booth at Bagda in North 24 Parganas. A huge police contingent was rushed to the spot to control the situation.In another incident, clashes broke out in Ashoknagar between rivals TMC and BJP activists during which bombs were hurled.PM Modi calls off campaign, to address voters virtuallyPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called off his Friday's visit to West Bengal as he will chair high-level meetings in Delhi amid an unprecedented Covid crisis in India."Tomorrow, will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing Covid-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal," Modi tweeted.Elections are under way in West Bengal where PM Modi was slated to hold a rally ahead of the seventh phase polling on April 26.After this, no further political meetings of the Prime Minister are scheduled in West Bengal, which will effectively end his campaign in the state as of now.However, PM Modi will address the four prescheduled rallies in West Bengal tomorrow virtually.Election Commission bans roadshows, vehicle rallies in West BengalThe Election Commission (EC) on Thursday imposed stricter curbs in view of the remaining phases of polling in the state.The EC banned road shows and vehicle rallies in West Bengal with immediate effect and said no public meeting having more than 500 people would be allowed.The order said the commission has noted "with anguish" that many political parties and candidates are still not adhering to the prescribed safety norms during the public gatherings.West Bengal CM cancels all scheduled meetingsFollowing EC's order, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also put curtains to all her prescheduled meetings amid rise in Covid cases in the state.Security personnel stand guard as voters stand in a queue to cast their vote during the sixth phase of polling in West Bengal. (ANI photo)As many as 306 candidates, including 27 women, were in the fray in this phase of polling. The EC deployed 1,071 companies of central forces for the sixth phase of polling.Polling for the seventh and eighth phases will be held on April 26 and 29 respectively while the counting of votes will take place on May 2.(With agency inputs)