Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates: Coming down hard on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday her fulminations against central forces betrayed frustration over “impending defeat” in the Assembly elections and wondered whether she is pushing the state towards anarchy. He exuded confidence that the BJP will win anywhere between 63 and 68 seats where polling has been held in the first three phases. Polling is over in 91 of the state’s 294 Assembly constituencies in the three phases. “The frustration of the TMC overe impending defeat is very much evident from her action and speeches. I Have never seen a chief minister or the president of a political party use the kind of words Mamata Banerjee is using against central forces. Is she trying to create anarchy? Does she want disturbance? Or does she want to win the election through rigging like before? She should know that central forces do not function under the home ministry during elections. They function under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission,” he told a press conference. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday addressed a rally in the Memari area of the state. She slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been campaigning consistently for the eight-phased polls. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi must control Amit Shah, he may incite riots here. Shah pressurising police to engage in unethical acts,” she was quoted as saying by The Times of India. Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Friday held a roadshow in the North 24 Praganas district’s Jagatdal area. West Bengal will witness its fourth phase of Assembly polls on Saturday. The TMC said that she will continue speaking about CRPF’s interference till it stops working for BJP. She also questioned the EC for not flagging Narendra Modi for campaigning in Bengal on polling days. Responding to her ‘gherao CRPF’ remark, the home minister on Friday said that Mamata Banerjee was frustrated over ‘impending defeat’ in the state Assembly polls. The union minister expressed confidence that the BJP will be able to secure win in at least 63 to 68 Assembly seats in the first three of the eight-phased election in West Bengal. The plea, filed through Advocate Vivek Narayan Sharma had also sought directions for creation of temporary body with extensive powers to look into election violence and punish the perpetrators, and for enhanced punishments for poll violence. The notice issued on Thursday night said Mamata prima facie violated various sections of the IPC with her remarks against the central forces. The TMC supremo has been asked to respond to the notice by 11 am on Saturday. Campaigning for the high-decibel fourth phase of polling, for 44 Assembly seats scheduled in five districts of West Bengal on 10 April, ended at 5 pm on Thursday. A total 1,15,81,022 voters including 58,82,514 men, 56,98,218 women and 290 members of the third gender, will decide the fate of 373 candidates in Saturday’s polling in constituencies spread over Howrah (Part II), South 24 Parganas (Part III), Hooghly (Part II) in south Bengal and in north Bengal’s Alipurduar and Coochbehar. The polling will be held between 7 am to 6.30 ppm in 15,940 polling stations. At stake are nine Assembly constituencies in Howrah, 11 in South 24 Parganas, five in Alipurduar, nine in Coochbehar and ten in Hooghly. Among those whose fate will be decided at the hustings are former Bengal Ranji captain Manoj Tiwary, TMC’s candidate from Shibpur, state education minister and sitting MLA from Behala Paschim Partha Chatterjee and central minister Babul Supriyo of the BJP who has locked horns with state sports minister Arup Biswas for the Tollygunge seat. Ratna Chatterjee, wife of former city mayor and fire minister Sovan Chatterjee, who left Mamata Banerjee’s TMC to join the BJP for a short period, is facing BJP’s actress-turned politician Payel Sarkar in Behala Purbo seat. Former state forest minister, Rajib Banerjee, who moved to the BJP recently is contesting from Domjur while BJP MP and actress Locket Chatterjee is contesting the polls from Chinsurah in Hooghly district. The Sanyukta Morcha comprising Left front, Congress and ISF has fielded mostly young faces for the fourth phase of polling. CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty is one of the few seniors fielded by the Left for this phase of the elections. BJP’s start campaigners included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda, Smriti Irani, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath besides, Bollywood star of yesteryears Mithun Chakraborty who crisscrossed the state trying to build up support for the saffron party. The BJP leadership targeted the TMC government, its supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee, her nephew Abhishek Banerjee accusing them of corruption and “appeasement politics” and claimed that their “khela shesh hobe” (game will be over). Modi and Shah promised voters early implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi as well as implementation of the 7th pay commission scales for state government employees if voted to power in West Bengal. Mamata, her nephew and party MP Abhishek were among star campaigners for the TMC who stepped up their attack on the BJP-led central government over recent hike in prices of gas, petrol, diesel, besides plans to disinvest in a large number of central government run PSUs. She also accused central police forces of harassing and intimidating voters in Bengal and urged voters to “gherao” them in case securitymen prevented them from voting. The fiery TMC leader during a public rally at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district on 3 April also appealed to the minority community not to divide their votes. This led to the Election Commission of India issuing a showcause notice to Mamata for demanding votes on communal ground. Taking note of the “sensitive” situation in the 44 Assembly constituencies in Bengal, the EC has decided to deploy at least 789 companies of the CAPF. Cooch Behar will have the highest deployment with 187 companies being deployed.
Assembly Election 2021 Updates: Mamata's complaints against CAPF show frustration over 'impending defeat', claims Amit Shah
Assembly Election 2021 LIVE Updates: The Union Home Minister also exuded confidence that the BJP will win anywhere between 63 and 68 seats where polling has been held in the first three phases read more
 "Assembly Election 2021 Updates: Mamata's complaints against CAPF show frustration over 'impending defeat', claims Amit Shah")
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP, TMC workers clash over tearing of posters in Kolkata
A clash broke out between members of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in Chetla area of Kolkata, considered to be the bastion of senior state minister Firhad Hakim, after posters of saffron party candidate Rudranil Ghosh were found torn in the locality, police said. The two sides hurled stones at each other leaving a few persons injured around Thursday midnight when Ghosh, along with BJP workers, was going to Chetla police station to lodge a complaint regarding the tearing of posters.
Several vehicles were also ransacked during the incident, police said on Friday. Ghosh, in a post on social media, alleged that around 250 members of the TMC had attacked him and his party colleagues when they were going to the police station. While the BJP alleged that TMC workers tore the posters, leaders of the ruling party denied the charge.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Assam to order probe into ‘spotting of polling officers with ballot papers’
The Cachar district administration in Assam on Friday said it will conduct an enquiry into media reports that a few “election officers” were spotted with ballot papers. A preliminary investigation revealed that no official engaged in the polling process was involved in the reported incident, district Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli told PTI.
According to the media reports, the “polling officers were seen with ballot papers on Thursday night”. “Election officers do not discharge their duties at night. Since a section of media reported that a few election officers were spotted with ballot papers last night, we will order an enquiry into it,” she said.
Silchar constituency went to the poll in the second phase of the assembly elections on 1 April.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
JP Nadda slams Mamata Banerjee at Bardhaman roadshow
“Mamata Banerjee says she’s the daughter and sister of Bengal. Wasn’t Shobha Majumdar a mother? Why didn’t she care about her? Human trafficking, acid attacks, and rape cases are record high here. Is this the Bengal you (public) want to see?” stated BJP president JP Nadda at a poll event in the state’s Bardhaman area on Friday, as quoted by The Times of India.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata Banerjee accuses Amit Shah of being ‘unethical’ in poll rally
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday addressed a rally in the Memari area of the state. She slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been campaigning consistently for the eight-phased polls.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi must control Amit Shah, he may incite riots here. Shah pressurising police to engage in unethical acts,” she was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata’s protests against CAPF betrays frustration, claims Amit Shah
Coming down hard on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday her fulminations against central forces betrayed frustration over “impending defeat” in the Assembly elections and wondered whether she is pushing the state towards anarchy. He exuded confidence that the BJP will win anywhere between 63 and 68 seats where polling has been held in the first three phases. Polling is over in 91 of the state’s 294 Assembly constituencies in the three phases.
“The frustration of the TMC overe impending defeat is very much evident from her action and speeches. I Have never seen a chief minister or the president of a political party use the kind of words Mamata Banerjee is using against central forces. Is she trying to create anarchy? Does she want disturbance? Or does she want to win the election through rigging like before? She should know that central forces do not function under the home ministry during elections. They function under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission,” he told a press conference.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC’s cricketer candidate Manoj Tiwary faces tough pitch in Shibpur
Ruling TMC’s new recruit and former India batsman Manoj Tiwary will face a tough political pitch in Howrah’s Shibpur assembly constituency as his opponents are are also formidable players adept at bowling googlies. The BJP has fielded Dr Rathin Chakrabarty, a TMC turncoat who was the former mayor of Howrah and severed ties with the party ahead of the elections, alleging he was not allowed to develop the industrial city.
The Left Front has nominated veteran Forward Bloc leader Dr Jagannath Bhattacharyya who is trying his luck for the fourth time from the seat. Tiwary (35), a right-handed batsman who represented India in 12 one-day internationals and three T20s, already received a blow in his debut poll battle as three-time TMC MLA from the constituency Jatu Lahiri joined the BJP after being denied a ticket for the Assembly elections.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Amit Shah holds roadshow in North 24 Parganas
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Friday held a roadshow in the North 24 Praganas district’s Jagatdal area. West Bengal will witness its fourth phase of Assembly polls on Saturday.
HM Shri @AmitShah's roadshow in Jagatdal, West Bengal. #BJP200PlusInBengal https://t.co/tM7TxStbE3
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 9, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Polling preparations underway ahead of 4th phase in Bengal
Polling parties gather at an EVM distribution centre in Alipore ahead of the fourth phase of #WestBengalElections2021 tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/wcdmAUHqct
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2021
Assembly bypolls 2021 LATEST Updates
Campaigning for Uttarakhand Assembly bypoll begins
Campaigning for the Salt Assembly bypoll in Uttarakhand has begun with Congress candidate Ganga Pancholi going door-to-door to drum up support. The bypoll to the seat in Almora district slated for 17 April was necessitated after the death of BJP MLA Surendra Singh Jeena, who died of coronavirus late last year.
As the voters have not made up their mind yet, the main players — BJP and Congress — are banking upon their strengths. While the BJP has fielded Mahesh Jeena, the elder brother of the late MLA, hoping to cash in upon the sympathy factor, the Congress has made Pancholi its nominee from the seat which she had lost narrowly to the BJP in the last Assembly polls.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Strong contest between BJP, TMC amid changing political equations in North Bengal
North Bengal, with its 54 seats spread across seven districts, has all the wherewithal to be a game-changer this election, with the BJP striving hard to hold its fort in the region, and the TMC seeking to recover its lost ground amid changing political equations.
Once considered a bastion of the Congress and the Left Front, north Bengal districts – mostly dominated by tribal and minority communities – have largely remained out of bounds for the TMC, barring a brief period of time.
The ruling camp had managed to fare well in 2016 state Assembly polls, when it bagged 25 seats in the region, but the subsequent general election in 2019 changed the course of the wind in favour of the BJP, which won seven of the eight Lok Sabha seats and stayed ahead in 35 Assembly segments.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
No EC notice for PM despite campaiging on polling days: Mamata
The TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee sought to know why no complaint was registered against BJP star campaigner and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for holding election campaigns on polling days.
“The prime minister campaigns in Bengal on polling days, yet there is no ruling that he has violated election conduct code,” said Mamata at a rally in Purba Bardhaman.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
At least 4.5 lakh tea garden workers from Dooars, Terai regions to vote tomorrow
The fourth and fifth phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections will present a politically crucial section of the electorate the opportunity to exercise their franchise – around 4.5 lakh tea garden workers – who are harbouring hopes of a better minimum daily wage and rights to their land.
The tea belt of Dooars and Terai region in north Bengal, comprising 12 constituencies, will go to polls on Saturday and 17 April, respectively, amid spirited calls by trade unions to lay emphasis on the welfare of the workers, irrespective of the party voted to power.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
ITBP begins securing polling booths for Phase 4 election
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) began securing booths and activating QRT (quick response team) parties in Chandannagar constituency, Hooghly.
Polling will begin at 7 am on Saturday and will continue till 6 pm.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) securing booths and activating QRT (quick response team) parties in Chandannagar constituency, Hooghly, ahead of the fourth phase of #WestBengalPolls : ITBP pic.twitter.com/cYDkrIwzVO
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Amit Shah holds door-to-door campaign in Bhawanipur
Union minister Amit Shah led a door-to-door campaign in Bhowanipur, seeking support for party candidate Rudranil Ghosh. He also led roadshows in the state, which will witness polls next on 10 April and later on 17, 22, 26 and 29 April.
Ghosh will be facing TMC’s Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay from the Assembly seat in the polls this year.
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah holds a door-to-door campaign in Bhawanipur of Kolkata, ahead of the fourth phase of #WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/vctmISitlp
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat’s convoy allegedly attacked TMC workers
The BJP has alleged that Trinamool Congress workers allegedly attacked Union Minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat’s convoy in Kolkata on Thursday night. Reports claim his convoy was attacked outside a police station in Chetla.
West Bengal: Convoy of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was allegedly attacked by TMC workers in south Kolkata, yesterday. Stones were also pelted on the convoy. pic.twitter.com/PID3IZ98LX
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Polls to be held under COVID shadow
In view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the Election Commission has decided to allow maximum 1,000 electors in a Polling Station instead of earlier stipulation of 1,500 electors. Option of Postal Ballot facility has been extended to the electors who are COVID- 19 positive or suspect as certified by competent authority and are in home or institutional quarantine along with those marked as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and above the age of 80 years.
It will be ensured that every Polling Station is equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) like drinking water, waiting shed, toilet with water facility, adequate arrangements for lighting, ramp of appropriate gradient for the Persons with Disabilities. The special facilities will include mandatory sanitisation of Polling Station, thermal checking of voters at entry point either by polling staff or paramedical staff or an Asha worker. If temperature is above the set norms of Health Ministry, then the elector will be provided with token and asked to come for voting at the last hour of poll. At the last hour of poll, such electors will be facilitated for voting, strictly following COVID-19 related preventive measures.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
At least 373 candidates in fray for phase 4 polls
Of the 44 Assembly seats voting in the fourth phase of Bengal polls on Saturday, eleven seats in South 24 Parganas, 10 in Hooghly and nine in Howrah will go to the polls in south Bengal, while voters across nine Assembly seats in Cooch Behar and five in Alipurduar district will exercise their franchise.
About 373 candidates are in the fray. About 1.15 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise across 15,940 polling stations on Saturday.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Visuals from Cooch Behar ahead of phase 4
Polling preparations underway in Cooch Behar ahead of the fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly election on Saturday. Forty-four Assembly segments across five districts — two in north Bengal and three in south Bengal — will go to the polls on 10 April.
Polling preparations underway ahead of the fourth phase of #WestBengalPolls tomorrow. Visuals from Cooch Behar. pic.twitter.com/tGxOkaiMbg
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata trying to push people towards anarchy, says Shah
Responding to her ‘gherao CRPF’ remark, Amit Shah on Friday accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of ‘pushing people toward anarchy’. “The frustration of TMC is very much evident from their action and speeches. I haven’t seen such a leader or chief minister in my life who give statements to ‘gherao CRPF’. Is she pushing the people towards anarchy? I don’t understand,” said the home minister.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP will win 63 to 68 seats in three phases: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence that the BJP will be able to secure win in at least 63 to 68 Assembly seats in the first three of the eight-phased election in West Bengal.
“In the three phases, BJP has got unprecedented support from the people of Bengal. As per our estimation, BJP will win between 63 to 68 seats in the three phases,” said Shah in Kolkata.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
SC dismisses plea seeking CBI probe into ‘attack’ on Mamata
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the petition seeking an independent probe into the incident in Nandigram that allegedly left chief minister Mamata Banerjee injured in the leg.
The top court asked the petitioners to approach the Calcutta high court, Live Law reported.
Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea filed seeking directions for CBI probe into the incident at Nandigram injuring West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
— Srishti Ojha (@SrishtiOjha11) April 9, 2021
Court asks petitioner to Approach High Court @MamataOfficial @AITCofficial #SupremeCourt https://t.co/18qcCAo5Ro
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Car of BJP’s South Howrah candidate vandalised
Convoy of Rantidev Sengupta, BJP candidate from South Howrah was allegedly attacked by unidentified persons, on Thursday, ANI reported. “People who attacked my vehicle were raising ‘khela hobe’ slogans. A party has accepted its defeat so they are resorting to such attacks,” he said.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Over 1.15 cr voters to decide fate of candidates tomorrow
A total 1,15,81,022 voters including 58,82,514 men, 56,98,218 women and 290 members of the third gender, will decide the fate of 373 candidates in Saturday during the fourth phase of Assembly election in Bengal.
Polling will place in constituencies spread over Howrah (Part 2), South 24 Parganas (Part 3), Hooghly (Part 2) in south Bengal and in north Bengal’s Alipurduar and Coochbehar.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP office vandalised in Durgapur
Bharatiya Janata Praty (BJP) office in Basudha area of Durgapur was allegedly vandalised by TMC workers on Thursday. “TMC goons have vandalised our office. If they think BJP can be stopped by such attacks then they are wrong. People are with us”, alleged a BJP worker.
West Bengal: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Basudha area of Durgapur was allegedly vandalised by TMC workers yesterday.
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2021
"TMC goons have vandalised our office. If they think BJP can be stopped by such attacks then they are wrong. People are with us", said a BJP worker pic.twitter.com/JYL9IdH9DO
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata gets EC notice over ‘gherao CRPF’ remark
The Election Commission (EC) has issued a notice to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks to “berate and vilify” the Central para-military forces by “falsely” suggesting that they may intimidate electors to vote for a particular party.
Stating that EC was prima facie convinced that her two statements — one during a TV interview telecast on 28 March and another in a speech on 7 April in Cooch Behar — were in violation of model code of conduct as well as Sections 186, 189 and 504 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
The poll panel’s notice asked Mamata to file her response by 11 am on 10 April. This is the second such notice issued to the TMC supremo by the Election Commission.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Jadavpur among 44 seats to vote in phase 4
Jadavpur is one of the Assembly constituencies in Kolkata where the fate of Trinamool Congress will largely depend on BJP’s performance.
The saffron party poll strategists depend on Rinku Naskar, once a popular CPM councillor in Jadavpur who is now contesting on a BJP ticket, to make a dent in the Left vote bank in Jadavpur-Santoshpur belt.
On the other hand, the TMC has fielded Debabrata Majumdar from the previous CPM stronghold.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Polling for phase 4 tomorrow, will cover 44 seats
Fourth phase of polling in West Bengal is schedules to take place tomorrow (Saturday, 10 April). The election campaigning for phase four concluded Thursday. A total of 44 constituencies will vote in this phase.
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