The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday rejected the Trinamool Congress’ suggestion to merge the remaining three phases of voting in West Bengal amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The poll body’s decision came a day before the state goes into the sixth phase of voting for the Assembly polls on Thursday.
In Phase 6, polling will be held in 43 constituencies in four districts to decide the fate of a total of 306 candidates including 27 women. Among the 43 constituencies, nine are in Uttar Dinajpur, eight in Purba Bardhaman, nine in Nadia and 17 are in the North 24 Parganas district.
TMC leader Derek O’Brien had written a letter to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Aariz Aftab on Tuesday, urging him to consider the party’s request amid the steep hike in Covid-19 cases.
“Two equally important issues are at stake: the right to life and public health and the right to hold elections,” the party’s letter said. It urged the poll body to take necessary steps and said that measures taken previously, such as reducing the campaigning period, were only ‘cosmetic’.
The Commission, in its response, told the TMC that changing the schedule of elections planned “much in advance” and involving a “complex interplay of variety of factors” is not feasible.
To TMC’s argument that parties and candidates have had adequate time for campaigning and, hence, clubbing the remaining phases will not hurt anyone’s chances, the poll body said it would be legally incorrect to treat campaigning meant for one phase as electioneering for others.
The EC also said that it has already curtailed the campaigning hours and extended the silence period from 48 hours to 72 hours before the remaining phases of elections. “In view of extension of the silence period, there would in any case be no campaigning from 6.30 pm on 26.4.2021 (date of poll of 7th phase) to 29.4.21 (date of poll of 8th phase). Further, the Commission has already mandated detailed guidelines to ensure that safety norms are adhered to without any exceptions and Chief Secretary, WB CEO and concerned DEOs have been directed to strictly enforce the same,” EC’s letter states.
In the sixth phase of the Assembly polls on Thursday, members of the Matua community and those who reside in Nadia district on the India-Bangladesh border would play a key role. Karimpur, Thatta, Palashipara, Kaliganj, Nakashipara, Chapra, Krishnanagar Uttar, Nabadwip, and Krishnanagar Dakshin are the nine seats that will go to polls.
The elections for the first five phases have already been completed. Polling for the seventh and the eighth phase will be held on 26 April and 29 April. The counting of votes will take place on 2 May.