Assembly Election 2021 Updates: EC issues notice to TMC's Sujata Mondal over remarks on SC community

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

Calcutta HC directs CID to place report on progress of probe into CISF firing at Sitalkuchi

The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the state CID to place before it a report on the progress of the investigation into the firing by CISF personnel at Sitalkuchi which resulted in the death of four persons during the fourth phase.

EC issues notice to TMC’s Sujata Mondal Khan 

The Election Commission on Friday issued a notice to Trinamool Congress leader Sujata Mondal Khan for her alleged comments on scheduled castes and gave her 24 hours to make her stand clear.

According to a portion of her remarks reproduced in the notice, the TMC leader had reportedly said that “as there is scarcity of resources in the schedule caste families, no matter how much, Mamata Bandyopadhyay has helped them, the scarcity will not go”. 

“As there a is a saying, some are actually beggars and others are beggars by nature. the schedule castes here are beggars by nature, and in spite of Mamata Bandyopadhyay (CM Mamata Banerjee) helping them so much, still they have been sold to BJP at a petty amount and are now torturing us,” according to Khan’s remarks reproduced in the notice

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ECI imposes campaign curbs in view of COVID surge

Election Commission (EC) curtailed the timing of the campaign up to 7 PM. “There shall not be any campaign between 7 PM and 10 AM on campaign day. Silence period extended from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three phases in West Bengal,” the ECI said.

The decision comes after an all-party meeting to discuss the COVID situation in the state.

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DMK complains of protocol breach at EVM strong rooms across state

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalinwrote a letter to Election Commission alleging that unauthorised people were being allowed to enter strong rooms where EVMs are stored. He also said that there were several instances of protocol breach throughout the state. He also highlighted some incidents where he alleged some covered containers were taken inside the strong rooms “mysteriously” during night.

“In Ramanathapuram, 31 people entered into the strong room campus with two laptops. On enquiry, it was revealed that they entered the strong room to operate some computers that were available on the same floor where EVMs are stored. In Neyveli Anna University Campus, where polled EVMS are stored, three computer-experts were allowed to enter into the premises, with pass issued by the officials, for unknown reasons,” the letter alleged according to India Today.

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Meanwhile, EC prepares ground for fifth phase of election

Visit of SDO & RO at the Dispersal Centre of Kalna (SC) Assembly Constituency of Purba Bardhaman District. #WestBengalElections @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @rajivkumarec @PIBKolkata pic.twitter.com/8NI06yqnnw

— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) April 16, 2021

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Left opposes Mamata’s demand to club remaining poll phases in Bengal

The Left Front on Friday told an all-party meeting called by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) over the alarming COVID-19 situation in West Bengal that the
poll schedule should be maintained, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Bhattacharya said.

“Our point is that the schedule should be maintained. The election is in motion. There is no question of change of schedule at this point of time,” Bhattacharya said after the all-party meeting. 

Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged the Election Commission to think about conducting polls for the remaining assembly seats at one go.

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Ashok Gehlot says politicians partially responsible for COVID spread

After elections for three out of four states and one Union Territory are over, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday reflected upon the disastrous impact of election rallies on the COVID situation which has been in a downward spiral since last month. The campaigning is now underway in West Bengal only where politicos from BJP, TMC and Congress are holding regular rallies and roadshows encouraging a large congregation of crowds even as India has been breaching its past record in new cases every single day of this week. 

If politicians had wanted, they could have stopped the crowd by using options like virtual rallies.

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 16, 2021

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After Mamata, Derek O’Brien pitches for clubbing of last four phases of election 

TMC's position is clear, we want remaining elections to be held in one phase. I request BJP to make their position clear. Do they agree with us that politics is a second priority, first is handling the COVID19 pandemic?: TMC leader Derek O'Brien pic.twitter.com/SqPOUBMUt3

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2021

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Need to balance robust democratic culture with safety norms: Swapan Dasgupta after all-party meet

Following an all-party meeting called by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Kolkata, BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta said the party has advised the Election Commission to “balance the need for a robust democratic culture with safety norms”. 

The meeting was called to discuss COVID-19 norms amid a surge in cases in the state. “It is up to the EC to tell us what exactly political parties must do. We’ve assured them that we’ll adhere to protocols,” Dasgupta said.

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Will urge EC to stop BJP outsiders from campaigning in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Speaking at a rally in Nadia, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she will urge the Election Commission to stop BJP from bringing “outsiders” to campaign in West Bengal to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Referring to her leg injury, she also said that the BJP tried to stop her from campaigning, but the people’s blessings proved the saffron party wrong.

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Amit Shah, JP Nadda hold roadshows ahead of 5th phase

Union minister Amit Shah held a roadshow in Krishnanagar Uttar while BJP chief JP Nadda led a roadshow in Bardhaman ahead of the fifth phase of polling in West Bengal on Saturday.

West Bengal: BJP National President JP Nadda holds a roadshow in Bardhaman. #WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/j90M0eo0Qf

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2021

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah holds a roadshow in Krishnanagar.#WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/qK2Ayl3WGg

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2021

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Polling personnel move to polling stations ahead of 5th phase

Ahead of the fifth phase of election on 17 April, polling personnel in West Bengal began moving towards the polling station from the Dispersal Centre under 264 – Kalna (SC) Assembly Constituency of Purba Bardhaman District.

Polling Personnel moving towards the Polling station from the Dispersal Centre under 264 - Kalna (SC) Assembly Constituency of Purba Bardhaman District. #WestBengalElections @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @rajivkumarec @PIBKolkata pic.twitter.com/k8ccl20n5k

— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) April 16, 2021

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CID takes over Cooch Behar violence probe

The West Bengal CID took over the case of the killing of four people in firing by the CISF during polling in Cooch Behar district on 10 April, a senior government official said. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CID has been constituted to conduct the probe in the incident which occurred during the fourth phase of polling in Sitalkuchi.

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Mamata has neither shown Ma’s care not protected Maati, Manush: JP Nadda

Addressing a public rally in Ketugram a day after the Nobo Barsho, BJP chief JP Nadda said the new year will bring in Asol Poriborton (real change) in West Bengal with the elevation of BJP to power in the state.

“Bengal has the highest incidence of atrocities on women, rape cases, acid attacks and domestic atrocities on women and yet the state has stopped giving crime records of atrocities on women in Bengal,” he alleged. 

He also hit out at Mamata Banerjee, Ma, Maati, Manish slogan and said, “In 10 years, we have seen that neither mother’s concern, nor Mati and Manush were protected.” He further said that the Chief Minister was banned from campaigning by the Election Commission for 24 hours for her call of a gherao of CAPFs in Cooch Behar. “We had never seen Constitutionally-elected people attack the Constitutional practices,” Nadda added.

He also alleged that he state government had not let the money granted to the state’s farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to reach beneficiaries. Nadda further hit out at “anti-Dalit” Mamata for not taking action against a TMC leader’s comments against Dalits.

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Mahua Moitra demands action against BJP candidate’s who met central forces

Sharing a picture of the BJP candidate for Ranaghat North East having lunch with central forces, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra urged the Election Commission to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

BJP Candidate for Ranaghat North East (Phase 5 Poll tomorrow) at lunch with central forces...@ECISVEEP please investigate & take action now pic.twitter.com/BjqlmUDyU4

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 16, 2021

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Derek O’Brien demands remaining poll phases be merged

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien took to Twitter to demand one phase of polling amid a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Trinamool position clear. We want to save lives. ONE phase. #COVIDEmergency

How many phases do the BJP want : one, two, three, four ?

Tell the world.

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) April 15, 2021

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BJP will create Rs 100 crore fund for refugees granted citizenship: Amit Shah

Addressing a public rally in Tehatta, Union minister Amit Shah said infiltrators take away jobs of our youth and the food of the poor. “If infiltration is not controlled in Bengal, then it’ll pose a threat to not only to the state but the entire country,” he said.

Shah said those who have come here for 70 years are living the life of a refugee in their own country and promised the BJP will work to give them citizenship. “A Rs 100 crore fund will be created for the refugees who get citizenship under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister,” he said at the public meeting.

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Matuas and other communities will get citizenship if BJP comes to power: Amit Shah

Union Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah said at a public meeting in Tehatta that Matuas, Namshudras and all such communities will be granted citizenship under CAA as soon as BJP forms the government in the state.

“Rahul Gandhi has asked about BJP’s DNA. I would like to inform him, it is D for development, N for nationalism and A for Aatmanirbhar Bharat. This is what BJP’s DNA stands for,” he said.

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JP Nadda’s campaign schedule today

BJP chief JP Nadda is to address a public meeting and hold two roadshows in West Bengal today, ahead of the fifth phase of polling on Saturday.

• Public meeting in Katwa at 12.30 pm
• Roadshow in Bardhaman at 3 pm
• Roadshow in Kolkata North Suburban at 5 pm

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

Amit Shah’s campaigning schedule today

Home Minister Amit Shah’s campaigning schedule for Friday includes public meetings and roadshows. Following is his schedule today:

• Public meeting in Tehatta at 11.30 am
• Roadshow in Krishnanagar Uttar at 1 pm
• Roadshow in Barrackpore at 3 pm
• Public meeting in Khardaha at 4.45 pm

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EC deploys 11 more police observers ahead of 5th phase

The Election Commission has decided to deploy 11 more police observers ahead of the fifth phase of polling on Saturday in 45 Assembly constituencies, adding that it does not want a repetition of the Sitalkuchi violence, an official told PTI.

Four people were killed in Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi on 10 April as central forces opened fire amid polling for the fourth phase allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who “attempted to snatch their rifles”, police had said. Following the violence, the Election Commission put in place restrictions, including extending the “silence period” from 48 hours to 72 hours, for the fifth phase of polls, and barred the entry of politicians in the district for 72 hours from 10 April, to prevent any possible law and order flare-up.

Altogether, 33 general and 16 expenditure observers have also been deployed for the ongoing elections in the state, the official said.

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No plan to merge remaining four phases: EC

Election Commission of India (ECI) officials clarified that the remaining four phases of election in West Bengal will not be clubbed together, a demand that has been made by many leaders including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee on Thursday had tweeted urging that the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth phases of election in the state be clubbed amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.