Campaign curbs in West Bengal amid surge

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, April 16

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 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.

Meanwhile, over 1 crore voters in West Bengal will decide the fate of 342 candidates on Saturday when 45 Assembly constituencies go to polls in the fifth phase amid a surge in Covid cases. Security has been stepped up to prevent Cooch Behar-like incident.

The Election Commission has decided to deploy 853 companies of central forces to ensure free and fair voting in 15,789 polling stations spread across six districts in the state for the fifth phase. While 16 seats are in North 24 Parganas, eight each are in Purba Bardhaman and Nadia, seven in Jalpaiguri, five in Darjeeling and one in Kalimpong district. It has been also decided to ensure strict compliance of Covid-19 protocols during the voting process, a poll panel official said.

Phase-V polling

15,789 polling stations

45 Assembly constituencies

6 districts

1 cr voters to decide fate of 342 nominees

• Over 1 crore voters in West Bengal will decide the fate of 342 candidates on Saturday when 45 Assembly constituencies go to polls in the fifth phase amid a surge in Covid cases.
• Prominent names in the fifth phase include Siliguri Mayor and Left Front leader Ashok Bhattacharya, state ministers Gautam Deb and Bratya Basu and BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya.

(With inputs from PTI)