News Analysis India

Tag: Election Commission of India

  • Dharmendra Pradhan appeals to ECI to deploy paramilitary forces in West Bengal Assembly polls

    By ANI
    NANDIGRAM: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday, on his visit to Nandigram, appealed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to deploy paramilitary forces in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls.

    “After Suvendu Adhikari’s ‘padayatra’ started today, our Yuva Morcha leader was attacked here, in front of me. I appeal to the Election Commission to deploy paramilitary forces here,” the Union Minister said.

    “Mamata Didi should fight elections in a democratic way,” Pradhan added.

    Nandigram will witness the most high-profile contest of West Bengal elections with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee taking on her former ministerial colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who had joined BJP in December last year. Adhikari had earlier said BJP will defeat Banerjee by over 50,000 votes from Nandigram.

    The polling in Nandigram will take place on April 1, in the second phase of the upcoming Assembly elections.

    Elections to the 294-member state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. 

  • ECI has not denied Mamata’s injury, says Mallikarjun Kharge

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ruled out the conspiracy against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee but has not denied her injury.

    “ECI has ruled out the conspiracy against Mamata Banerjee but has not denied her leg injury. The BJP should at least trust their agency,” said Kharge.

    “There must have a police lap that the election commission has mentioned. Shah and Modi always create a scene over everything but I believe politics should not be done in this matter,” he added.

    He also mentioned that, by privatising the banks, the government is systematically getting away with the arrangement of reservation given to SC, ST and OBCs.

    While talking about COVID-19 precautions, Kharge said, “We are taking preventive measures to avoid COVID-19 but the leaders of this country, Modi ji and Amit ji, are holding large gatherings in West Bengal. This reflects their alertness for the situation.”

    The Election Commission on Sunday said that the injury caused to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram was not a result of an “attack”, as per the findings of the state’s Observers and Chief Secretary. The official source of the poll body said that there is no evidence of an attack carried out on Banerjee.

    Mamata Banerjee, was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination, alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during election campaigning.

    She had sustained “severe bone injuries” on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination.

    Elections to the 294-member assembly will be held from March 27 to April 29. Results will be declared on May 2.  

  • Central Police Forces routinely sent to poll-bound states, not just West Bengal, clarifies EC

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday said that Central Police Forces (CPF) are routinely sent in advance to poll stations for area domination to all the States or Union Territories where Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are to take place and not specifically to West Bengal.

    The ECI said this in the wake of some reports that CPFs have been sent specifically to West Bengal.

    In an official statement, the ECI said that it had come to its notice that certain sections of media have reported on CPFs being sent specifically to the State of West Bengal.

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    “CPFs are routinely sent to all the States and Union Territories where Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are to take place, for advance area domination, especially in the critical and vulnerable sectors which are identified by meticulous advance reviews and concrete feedback from various sources including political parties and entities. This practice is going on since the late 1980s,” said ECI in the statement.

    “During the Lok Sabha elections 2019 also, Central Forces were sent to all States and UTs and the same has been done in all State Elections which have been taking place. In the instant case also the CPFs have been sent to all the four states namely Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and UT of Puducherry where Assembly Elections are to take place,” the statement said further.

    The ECI also said, “It may be of interest for the Media to know that the orders for CPF deployment were issued to the Chief Secretaries, the DGPs and the Chief Electoral Officers of these five states and Union Territories on the same day of 16th February 2021.” 

  • BSF threatening voters in border areas: TMC complains to CEC

    The full bench of the ECI arrived in West Bengal on Wednesday evening on a two-day visit ahead of the assembly polls.