News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal poll 2021

  • EC issues notice to Mamata, seeks explanation on statements against Central forces

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: The Election Commission issued a notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asking her to explain her stand by April 10 regarding her statements against Central forces on March 28 and April 7. This is the second notice issued to her by the Election Commission.

    Banerjee had alleged that the Central forces favoured the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the polling in the first and second phase of West Bengal assembly elections.

    On Wednesday, EC had issued another notice to Mamata Banerjee over her remarks on April 3, where she appealed to the Muslim voters to not let their vote be split among different political parties contesting in the ongoing assembly elections.

    The Commission asked the Chief Minister to explain her stand within 48 hours after receiving the notice, failing which it shall “take a decision without further reference to you”.

    Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee challenged the EC on Thursday saying if she was served 10 of such notices, she would keep urging voters to vote unitedly against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Speaking at a public rally in Domjur, Banerjee said, “Even if 10 show cause notices are issued against me, my answer will remain the same. I am telling everyone to vote unitedly, there will no division. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, do not give a single vote to them.

    The first three phases of the eight-phased West Bengal polls have already taken place. The fourth phase of the elections will be held on Saturday. Counting of the votes will take place on May 2.

  • BJP men forcibly occupying booths, attacking TMC candidates, says Mamata as 3rd phase underway

    By PTI
    KALCHINI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed BJP activists were forcibly occupying polling booths and attacking TMC members, including party candidates, and asserted that she would not get bogged down by such “intimidatory tactics”.

    Addressing a public meeting here in Alipurduar district, the TMC supremo said her party’s nominee in Arambagh, Sujata Mondal, was chased and hit on head near a polling booth by saffron party workers.

    “They have inflicted serious injury on our Scheduled Caste candidate Sujata, when she visited a booth. They also hit another candidate in Khanakul. In Canning East, security forces prevented our nominee Shaukat Mollah from entering a booth. There had been numerous such instances of attack on our candidates, party workers across the state,” Banerjee said.

    The CM further stated that she has received at least 100 complaints of assault and violence since morning, and the EC has been duly informed but to no avail.

    Alleging that a deep-rooted conspiracy has been hatched by the BJP leadership in Delhi after experiencing “poor turnout” in rallies, Banerjee said “Security forces have been asked not to resist booth capturing.”

    “Four of our activists have been murdered since the elections began, but no action has been taken. But you (BJP) cannot terrorise us, intimidate us by such acts,” Banerjee added.

  • To salute movement, I chose Nandigram over Singur, says Mamata Banerjee

    By ANI
    NANDIGRAM: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader on Tuesday said that she chose to contest from the Nandigram Assembly constituency over Singur to salute the Nandigram movement.

    “I could have contested from any other constituency but I have chosen Nandigram to pay my respect to the mothers & sisters of this place. To salute the Nandigram movement, I chose Nandigram over Singur,” she said.

    “Remember, if I have entered Nandigram once, I will not leave. Nandigram is my place, I will stay here,” she further said.

    Earlier in the day, she led a road rally in Bhagabeda of Nandigram.

    ALSO READ: Nandigram torn between Dada and Didi

    “Bury Bharatiya Janata Party politically and bowl them out from Nandigram and West Bengal,” she said in Sona Chura, Nandigram.

    She also reminded the voters and TMC cadre to maintain their calm during voting in the State Assembly polls.

    “During election cast your votes peacefully. Keep in mind, ‘cool cool Trinamool, thanda thanda cool cool, vote pabe joda phool’. Keep your mind cool for 48 hours,” she said.

    Polling in the Nandigram constituency will take place in the second phase of the Assembly elections on April 1.

    Meanwhile, the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded with an estimated 79.79 per cent voter turnout on Saturday, which covered 30 seats from Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, Purba and Paschim Medinipur.