New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (April 15) urged the Election Commission to think about holding elections for the remaining assembly seats at one go in view of the rising cases of Covid-19 in the state. She also stressed that her party had previously opposed the eight-phase voting program for a long time.
In a tweet, she said that such a step should be taken keeping in mind the public interest, amidst the ongoing epidemic, we strongly opposed the Election Commission’s decision to hold the West Bengal elections in 8 phases. Now, seeing the surge in corona cases, I urge the ECI to consider the remaining steps at once. “She added,” This will protect people from further exposure to the corona. “
Before the fifth phase of voting, on 17 April, there is a debate on social media as to whether the poll panel should conduct elections for at least the next three phases of Bengal on a single day.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Thursday evening banned a 24-hour campaign for BJP West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh for his remarks that ‘there will be sitalakuchi in many places’. During this, he was issued a notice for his alleged ‘provocative’ remarks, in which he was asked to present his case within 24 hours.
Against Dilip Ghosh, the Election Commission said that it gives a strict warning to Ghosh and advises him to stop using such statements when public statements are made while the model code of conduct comes into force.
The ban will remain in effect from 7 pm to 7 pm on April 15, during which Ghosh will not be allowed to campaign. TMC leaders had approached the Election Commission against Ghosh.
West Bengal BJP leader Sayantan Basu was issued a notice for his alleged ‘inflammatory’ remarks during a speech. The notice stated that the poll panel had received a complaint against Basu for his speech in Baranagar, North 24 Parganas.
His speech was found to be in violation of the Model Code and the Representation of the People Act and the provisions of the Indian Penal Code by the Election Commission.
(With agency inputs)