News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal Elections

  • RSP candidate passes away, EC puts off poll at West Bengal’s Jangipur seat 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Saturday put off assembly election to the Jangipur seat in West Bengal following the death of a Revolutionary Socialist Party candidate.

    As per provisions of the Representation of the People Act, in case a candidate of a recognised party dies, the poll is put off to allow the party decide on a new candidate.

    The new candidate gets to file his or her nomination and goes through the entire process of scrutiny of documents and the opportunity to withdraw nomination.

    A commission spokesperson said, “Poll at 58 Jangipur AC in Murshidabad scheduled on April 26 stands adjourned due to death of RSP candidate.

    ” The Election Commission would announce a fresh poll schedule for the seat in the coming days, officials said.

    Revolutionary Socialist Party candidate Pradip Kumar Nandi, who tested positive for COVID-19 four days ago, died at a hospital in Berhampore on Friday.

    Nandi, 73, was the party’s nominee from the Jangipur assembly constituency in Murshidabad district in the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections.

  • CID takes over probe in Cooch Behar CISF firing that killed four

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal CID Friday took over the case of killing of four people in firing by the CISF during polling in Cooch Behar district on April 10, a senior government official said.

    A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been constituted to conduct the probe in the incident which happened during the fourth phase of polling at Sitalkuchi.

    The incident had set off an acrimonious war of words between the ruling TMC and challenger BJP, and triggered public outrage.

    Investigators will visit booth number 126/5 in Jorpatki in Sitalkuchi assembly constituency where CISF personnel had opened fire after they allegedly came under attack from a group of villagers.

    The TMC has claimed those killed were its supporters who were gunned down when they were standing in queue to cast their votes.

    Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the TMC chief, had called the incident a “genocide”.

    Besides talking to witnesses and recording their statements, the SIT will algo go through vodeo footage of the incident.

    A video clip has emerged on social media, the officer said, adding a forensic test will likely be conducted to establish its authenticity.

    The SIT will also talk to officers and personnel of the local police station who rushed to the scene soon after the incident.

    The Election Commission had cancelled the voting at the polling station after the incident and imposed a ban on entry of politicians into Cooch Behar for 72 hours apprehending trouble.

    Banerjee had visited Sitalkuchi on Wednesday and met the families of the victims.

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  • West Bengal polls: Mamata wants rest of phases clubbed, EC isn’t willing

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Rejecting rumours that the remaining phases of elections in West Bengal would be clubbed in view of the rising Covid cases, the Election Commission said on Thursday that there is no such plan. 

    Later in the day, Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee urged the Election Commission to consider conducting the remain polls at one go. “In view of the huge surge in #COVID19 cases, I urge the ECI to consider holding the remaining phases in ONE go,” she tweeted.

    Ex-chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi said while the campaign period is fixed at 14 days, extending by a few days is possible. “Clubbing with the last phase is doable,” he said. Meanwhile, the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer has called an all-party meeting on Friday to ensure adherence to the Covid-19 guidelines for the remaining phases of polls. 

  • Covid shadow over Bengal polls, one candidate dead

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  The deadly virus has started taking its toll on West Bengal Assembly elections. A Congress candidate died on Thursday of Covid-19. Two other contestants tested positive. The Election Commission (EC) held an all-party meeting, where TMC suggested that the last three phases scheduled for April 22, 26 and 29 be held in one go. However, the EC ruled that the schedule will remain unchanged. The fifth phase is coming up on April 17.

    The EC’s meeting with the parties discussed how campaigns should be conducted in the wake of the pandemic. The CPI(M) has announced it would not hold big rallies and asked its workers to carry out door-to-door campaigns and use social media to reach out to voters. West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he would welcome the EC’s decision. “Life is more valuable than election,’’ he said. Amit Malvya, BJP’s IT cell head, also said they would abide by the EC’s decision whatever it is.

    Rezaul Haque, Congress candidate from Murshidabad district’s Samserganj constituency died in a private hospital in Kolkata. He had tested positive and hospitalised with acute respiratory problem. Left Front’s ally RSP’s candidate from Jangipur, Murshidabad, Pradip Nandi and TMC candidate from Goalpokhar, North Dinajpur, Golam Rabbani also tested positive for Covid-19. Rabbani was admitted to a hospital and Nandi was in home quarantine.

    On Wednesday, West Bengal recorded its highest single-day spike of 5,892 cases and 24 deaths. In Kolkata, 1,601 new cases and seven deaths were reported in 24 hours. Reacting to experts, who have been blaming large rallies where Covid protocols are flouted for the sudden spurt in cases, CPI(M) became the first party to say no to big gatherings.

    “We will not hold large rallies ahead of the remaining phases of elections. We will lay stress on door-to-door campaigns, campaigning through social media and small street corners. Proper Covid-19 protocols will be followed,’’ said senor leader Mohammad Selim. Campaign for the fifth phase of polls ended on Wednesday, after the EC extended the silence period before polls to 72 hours from 48 hours after the Cooch Behar firing in which four persons were killed.

    24-hour campaign ban on Bengal BJP presidentNew Delhi: The poll panel on Thursday barred West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh from campaigning for 24 hours. The ban was imposed for his alleged remarks that there would be “Sitalkuchi in several places”, a reference to the killing of four people in firing by CISF during poll violence last week. The Election Commission also issued a notice to West Bengal BJP leader Sayantan Basu for his alleged “inflammatory” remark during a speech and asked him to explain his stand within 24 hours.

  • Jaya for company, Mamata braves the heat and ups ante against BJP

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee held her second roadshow on wheelchair in Kolkata on Thursday from Beliaghata to Bowbazar, a 4.5km stretch, under scorching heat. She was accompanied by Samajwadi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachhan.

    The West Bengal CM’s first roadshow on wheelchair, after she was injured in Nandigram while greeting the crowd, was held on Mar 14. With hundreds of supporters following her, the roadshow on Thursday travelled along arterial roads of east and central Kolkata. People standing on the road and residents from their balconies responded to Mamata, who kept waving her hands.

    “May the Bengali New Year of 1428 be spent with safety, joy and peace. My good wishes to you all. We have to be in it together to keep West Bengal free of BJP,” Mamata said. A former resident of the state, Bachchan has been campaigining for TMC in West Bengal for a while now. “I am accompanying her (Mamata) because of the slew of development works that were carried out during the TMC’s regime in Bengal. The TMC will win this election and BJP will be whitewashed,’’ she said.

    Thousands of party supporters took part in the rally and shouted slogans of “Didi tumi egiye cholo amra tomar sange achhi” (Didi, you go ahead, we are with you), “Dangabaz BJP dur hato” (Down with rioter sBJP) and “Khela hobe (The game is on).”

    Bachchan was vocal and said that Mamata has set an example by campaigning with an injured leg. “Khela hobe. Didi is playing the game even with her injured leg,” said the actress, who shares a good rapport with the TMC supremo and had earlier attended the inauguration programme of the Kolkata International Film Festival. “We do not want change in Bengal.

    Please re-elect Didi and help her carry on the development work to take the state to new heights,” added Bachchan. She also greeted the public on the Bengali New Year day. Assembly polls have been completed in 135 of the 294 constituencies in the state so far. The remaining 159 seats are set go to the polls between April 17 and 29. Elections in the state are being held in eight phases.

  • ‘Why do you blame PM for everything?’: Rajnath Singh says Didi’s conduct unbecoming of a CM

    By ANI
    NORTH 24 PARGANAS (West Bengal): Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) senior leader and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing a public rally in West Bengal’s Swarupnagar on Tuesday lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying her conduct is unbecoming of a CM.

    “You talk nonsense about our PM. Why do you blame him for everything? I have also been a Chief Minister, I know how a CM should behave,” Rajnath said.

    The Union Defence Minister also slammed Banerjee for speaking and protesting against the Election Commission after the agency on Monday put a ban on her preventing her from campaigning.

    “EC has banned her for 24 hours citing MCC violation. She’s now against the EC. Didi, can you spare anyone?” Singh asked.

    The BJP leader also alleged that bombs were being made to attack opponents in the state.

    “I saw on TV that there’s a bomb factory here. I thought it was a government factory, but bombs were made to attack opponents. How was it possible to make bombs under the CM’s leadership? If BJP government is formed, there will be either bombs or us,” the minister further said.

    The fifth and sixth phases of the ongoing Assembly elections in the state will take place on April 17 and April 22. Counting of votes will take place on May 2. 

  • NOC not yet issued by Army for Mamata Banerjee’s Gandhi Murti protest

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: As West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is sitting on dharna at Gandhi Murti in Kolkata on Tuesday, as a mark of protest after the Election Commission (EC) imposed a ban on her for 24 hours from campaigning, an Eastern Command official informed that No Objection Certificate (NOC) has not been issued yet for the protest at the venue.

    “We received an application from Trinamool Congress (TMC) at 9:40 am, for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Kolkata’s Gandhi Murti as the area falls under Army’s jurisdiction. It is under process and NOC hasn’t been issued yet,” said an Eastern Command Official.

    Mamata is sitting on dharna at Gandhi Murti in Kolkata on Tuesday, as a mark of protest after the Election Commission (EC) imposed a ban on her for 24 hours from campaigning in any manner from 8 pm on April 12 till 8 pm on April 13.

    While sitting on the dharna she is keeping herself busy by painting.

    The Election Commission on Monday banned Mamata Banerjee from campaigning in the ongoing state elections for 24 hours and said she had made “highly insinuating and provocative remarks laden with the serious potential of the breakdown of law and order and thereby affecting the election process”.

    The ban comes into force ahead of the fifth phase of Assembly polls in the state on April 17.

    The poll panel in its order condemned her statements “portent with serious law and order problems across the state (s)” and sternly warned her.

    It advised her “to desist from using such statements while making public utterances during the period when Model Code of Conduct is in force.”

  • WB polls: Election Commission warns Suvendu Adhikari for March 29 speech

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Election Commission of India has warned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari over a speech delivered by him on March 29, for which he had filed a reply on April 9.

    The Election Commission has advised him to desist from using such statements while making public utterances when Model Code of Conduct is in force.

    An order from the EC stated, “Whereas, the Commission has issued a notice dated April 8 to Suvendu Adhikari, candidate of BJP from 210-Nandigram Assembly Constituency for violation of provisions contained in clause (2) and (3) of Part 1 of ‘General Conduct of Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of political parties and candidates’ during ongoing General Election to Legislative Assembly of West Bengal.”

    Whereas the Commission has received a reply from Suvendu Adhikari to the aforesaid Notice on April 9 and whereas Suvendu Adhikari in the aforesaid reply, has inter-alia submitted the following:-

    He firmly believes in free, fair and impartial election where there is no ill will between candidates and no personal attack is made while criticism the political opponents.

    He respectfully states that he had no malafide intention to criticize anyone personally or make any offensive or derogatory statement against anyone. he has always remained cautious and refrained from making any statements which would hurt anyone. In addition, he has never appealed to the citizens in caste or communal lines for securing votes.

    He reiterates that he has not violated any provision of MCC, however, he will be more careful in future. His party and himself have firm belief and respects democracy and democratic institutions like Election Commission of India and would abide by any directives of ECI.

    Whereas, the Commission has carefully considered the reply and is of the considered view that Suvendu Adhikari has violated Para 2 and 3 of Part 1 ‘General Conduct of Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of political parties and candidates.

    Now therefore the Commission hereby warns Suvendu Adhikari and advises him to desist from using such statement while making public utterances during the period when the Model Code of Conduct is in force.

    Nandigram witnessed a high-voltage “Khela” (game of power) on Thursday in the second phase of West Bengal Assembly polls.

    The constituency witnessed a direct contest between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her former ministerial colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in December last year.

  • Central forces did the right thing, says BJP’s Rahul Sinha on Cooch Behar firing

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: A day after Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh courted a controversy as he warned of more Cooch Behar-like killings, another senior leader of the party, Rahul Sinha, said on Monday that the central forces, if deemed fit, could have shot dead more than four persons in the district in its bid to thwart attempts of vote-rigging.

    Ghosh had on Sunday said more Cooch Behar-like killings may happen in the next phase of assembly elections if “naughty boys like the ones who died in Sitalkuchi” try to take the law into their hands.

    ALSO READ | Mamata Banerjee says BJP killing own cadre, promises to probe Cooch Behar shooting

    Sinha, who was in the Habra area of North 24 Parganas, told reporters, “Miscreants sheltered by TMC supremo (Mamata Banerjee) are shooting innocent BJP supporters in polling booths. Her goons are taking away the voting rights of common people. The central forces did the right thing by opening fire on these miscreants.”

    He further went on to say that “the central forces, in its effort to stop rigging, could have shot dead more than four maybe seven or eight – if necessary”.

    His remarks drew sharp reactions from various political parties.

    ALSO READ | Cooch Behar firing: EC’s clean chit to CISF based on hypothetical reports, says CPM’s Biman Bose 

    The TMC boss, without naming Sinha, said at a public meeting, “A BJP leader has said eight people should have been shot dead by the central forces on Saturday. I condemn this statement. Such leaders should be banned from politics.”

    Urging the Election Commission to take note of the remarks made by Ghosh and Sinha, CPI(M) candidate from Jadavpur Sujan Chakraborty said, “These comments reflect the fascist nature of the BJP.

    The poll panel should initiate action against these leaders for such irresponsible comments.”

    Chakraborty also claimed that “certain statements made by Banerjee are also triggering violence in the poll-bound state, and fanning the flames of polarisation”.

  • WB polls: Mamata Banerjee says BJP killing own cadre, promises to probe Cooch Behar shooting

    By PTI
    RANAGHAT (West Bengal): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in an apparent jibe at state BJP leaders, said on Monday that those threatening of more Cooch Behar-like killings should be banned politically.

    She wondered what kind of human beings are politicians who say that there will be more Sitalkuchi-like incidents and that the death toll should have been higher.

    Four people were killed in CISF firing after they “attempted to snatch the rifles of the central forces” while voting was underway in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district in the fourth phase on Saturday, sparking a political storm in the state.

    ALSO READ: NRC will have no impact on Gorkhas, says Amit Shah at Kalimpong

    “Some political leaders are threatening of more Sitalkuchi-like incidents, while others are saying that the death toll should have been higher. I am stunned and shocked to see such reactions. What are these leaders up to? They should be politically banned,” Banerjee said, while addressing an election rally at Ranaghat in Nadia district.

    BJP leaders were seen referring to the Cooch Behar killings and threatening that more such incidents may happen if “naughty boys” take the law into their hands and that more than four people should have been killed in the firing.

    Banerjee alleged that the BJP is killing its own workers and leaders and damaging their vehicles “to bring a bad name to the TMC”.

    “Before conspiring to kill four persons in CISF firing, the BJP, a party of murderers, killed a Rajbongshi brother,” she said.

    Apart from the four people who were killed in CISF firing, another man was shot dead outside a polling booth by unidentified persons in the same Sitalkuchi assembly constituency area.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah has alleged that Banerjee paid tributes only to the four persons killed in CISF firing because they were from the minority community.

    Accusing the BJP of communalising the murder of young voters on polling day, Banerjee said, “You  cannot succeed in your nefarious game to divide the people of West Bengal. This is not Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat.”

    ALSO READ: Mamata Banerjee ‘clean bowled’, BJP completed century already: PM Modi at Bardhaman

    Alleging that Shah had hatched the conspiracy of Cooch Behar killings with the full knowledge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the feisty TMC leader said, “After returning to power, I will order a probe to unravel the sequence of events, who were involved, how it all started, whether any rumour was at play…everything.”

    She urged people not to vote for a party that encourages “firing on voters standing in a queue”.

    Claiming that her government has given land rights to people settled in refugee colonies in the state, the chief minister said, “The BJP has sent 14 lakh Bengalis in Assam to detention camps. The same fate may await you if they come to power in West Bengal.”

    She asserted that though she is a Brahmin woman and a devout Hindu who knows mantras by heart, caste identity is not important to her.

    “I consider myself inseparable from Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, SCs, STs, OBCs and all other communities. We don’t exclude anyone in the name of caste, community or religion. Unlike the BJP, we consider everyone as humans,” she said.

    “One of the BJP MPs, contesting the assembly polls, has herself damaged the windscreen of her car to give a bad name to the TMC,” she said, in an apparent reference to an incident in which the car of saffron party leader Locket Chatterjee was damaged during a TMC protest in Chunchura assembly seat.