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West Bengal Elections 2021 Highlights: It’s the assembly elections season in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Polling happened in a single phase in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on April 6, while voters in Assam cast their votes in three phases. Polling in Bengal is happening in eight phases. Of these, four phases have concluded. The next phase will take place on April 17. The election campaign and canvassing have continued there in full swing. Counting of votes in all states will happen on May 2. In Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is fighting to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s surge at bay. The saffron party has shown a dramatic electoral rise in the state over the last few years. In Assam, the state’s governing BJP is hoping to retain power even as it faces ‘Mahajot’, the joint opposition alliance comprising the Congress, AIUDF and other regional parties. Congress and the Left Front, which are allies in Bengal, are competing for power in Kerala. The Congress-led UDF and the ruling LDF have been winning alternate elections since the early 1980s. Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK has continued its alliance with the BJP amid a challenge from MK Stalin-led DMK and its alliance partners. However, one of the key things to watch out for in the southern state is how some of the smaller parties – including that of actor Kamal Haasan and TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK – may impact the poll outcome. With their government having collapsed due to defections weeks before the election, V Narayanasamy-led Congress is battling the BJP-NR Congress alliance in Puducherry.
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Against the backdrop of rising COVID-19 cases, the Election Commission on Friday put in place restrictions on campaigning by political parties, including curtailing its time, for the West Bengal assembly elections.
In an order, the poll panel curtailed the time for the campaign up to 7 pm. Earlier it was up to 10 pm.
Now there will be no campaign between 7 pm and 10 am on campaign day in the state, the Election Commission said.
It also extended the silence period from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three of the eight phases of the West Bengal polls to be held on April 22, 26 and 29.
During the silence period, which is usually for 48 hours, parties and candidates cannot hold rallies and meetings.
(PTI)
Election Commission (EC) curtails the timing of the campaign up to 7 PM. There shall not be any campaign between 7 PM and 10 AM on campaign day. Silence period extended from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three phases in West Bengal: EC
Election Commission (EC) curtails the timing of the campaign up to 7 PM. There shall not be any campaign between 7 PM and 10 AM on campaign day. Silence period extended from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three phases in West Bengal: EC pic.twitter.com/anHbexpNqG
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2021
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that she will call upon the ElectionCommission to stop the BJP from bringing "outsiders" during campaigning, squarely blaming the saffron party forexacerbating the COVID-19 situation in the state. Banerjee, during a public meeting in Nadiadistrict, said the BJP brought people from "worst-hit" states like Gujarat for erecting marquees for Prime Minister NarendraModi's poll rallies.
"We have nothing to say if the PM or other leaders come for campaigning... Why should the BJP bring people fromworst-affected states to set up podiums and pandals for rallies," she said. (PTI)
BJP national president JP Nadda is holding a roadshow in Bardhaman ahead of the fifth phase of polling in Bengal Assembly polls.
I will urge the Election Commission to stop BJP from bringing outsiders in Bengal during campaigning to check the spread of COVID-19. (PTI)
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah is holding a roadshow in Krishnanagar Uttar
Union Home Minister Amit Shah today accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeeof denying citizenship to Dalit Matua and Namsudra communities as her "vote bank would not like it".Reaching out to the two numerically strong communities, which can infuence the outcome of assembly elections in manyseats, Shah said a Rs 100 crore fund will be created for their welfare if the BJP is voted to power in the state. "These Matua and Namsudra families are living here for 50-70 years, for three generations. But Didi says they willnot get citizenship, why? Because her vote back would not like it," he told an election rally in Tehatta in Nadia district.
Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi who addressed his first two election rallies on April 14 after keeping off the campaign in the state where his party is contesting in alliance with the Left while fighting against it in Kerala, Shah branded him a "tourist politician". (PTI)
Just a few days ago, a TMC leader uttered abusive words for Dalit. He said that they get sold for money. But Mamta ji did not condemn this till date. All TMC leaders, including Mamta ji, are anti-Dalit.
The central government is ready to send the money of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to the farmers, but it was not allowed to reach you. Do you want such a government?
Mamata Didi was recently banned by the Election Commission for 24 hours. He had called for 'gherao' of CAPF jawans in Cooch Behar. We had never seen Constitutionally-elected people attack the Constitutional practices.
BJP national president JP Nadda is addressing a public meeting in Ketugram
