Assembly Election 2021 Updates: High-decibel campaign for fourth phase in West Bengal ends; polling to be held on 10 April

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

ED links Mamata's nephew Abhishek to coal mining scam

The ED has alleged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's family benefited from illicit funds obtained from certain illegal coal mining in the state under a "deep system" of political patronage driven by "well-oiled" machinery.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) made these claims Wednesday in a remand note presented before a special court seeking enhanced custody of West Bengal police officer Ashok Kumar Mishra, also the inspector in charge of Bankura police station.

The police officer, apart from TMC youth wing leader Vinay Mishra's brother Vikas Mishra, was arrested by the ED in a case that has local trader Anup Majhi alias Lala as the prime suspect.

The inspector was arrested by the ED here on April 3 and the court had sent him to custody till Wednesday. The court extended his ED remand till April 12.

-PTI

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

No 'paribartan' in Bengal under TMC : Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday criticised the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal and derided it for failing to bring in any positive change in the ten years that it has been in power, reports PTI. The UP chief minister also claimed that West Bengal is not a safe place for women under the TMC government.

He promised that after BJP assumes power, education and transport will be made free for girls and anti-romeo squads will be formed in Bengal to deal with those who loiter around girls schools.

Where is the paribartan (change) that Mamata Banerjee had promised ten years ago? he asked addressing three poll rallies in Hooghly and Howrah districts of West Bengal.

The top saffron party leader said that when Trinamool Congress came to power in the state a decade ago it had promised to serve 'maa-maati-manush' (mother, motherland and people), which became its slogan.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Domjur Constituency: Former TMC minister fights for political survival

The message Rajib Banerjee, former Trinamool Congress minister, now with the BJP, wants to sell to the people of Domjur in Howrah district is that he may have changed his team jersey colours, but he remains the same man.

Banerjee, who is seeking re-election for the third time after crossing over to the saffron camp in January, is fighting a fierce battle for survival not only against rival candidates, but against the TMC message that the party led by chief minister Mamata Banerjee was larger than any individual politician.

The Domjur constituency, which comprises urban clusters and rural swathes, was traditionally a Left-bastion with the CPI(M) wining the seat from 1977 to 2006, but is set to witness a tug of war between the centrist TMC and right- wing BJP this time round.

The former state minister, who had won the seat twice on a TMC ticket, is campaigning on his track record of getting development work done over the last five years.

Banerjee who had won the seat for the first time in 2011 by defeating CPI(M)'s Mohanta Chatterjee by around 24,000 votes, increased his winning margin to over 1 lakh in the last assembly election with a massive 67 per cent vote share.

'Aakranta Aamraa' (We the Victims), a forum of alleged victims of human rights violations during the TMC rule, had fielded Pratima Dutta, wife of murdered green activist Tapan Dutta, from this constituency in 2016. The Left Front supported Dutta came a distant second while the BJP came third.

-PTI

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Bengal has decided to bid adieu to Mamata Banerjee: JP Nadda

Attacking West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda on Thursday said the state has decided to bid adieu to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief. "Mamata Ji has made it a culture. People of West Bengal have decided to bid adieu to Mamata Ji. 'Khela shesh hoyegeche'. BJP will get over 200 seats and people present here is confirming the same," Nadda said in Dinhata, Coochbehar.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Mamata asks voters to be on guard, fears intimidation by central forces

Apprehending that a section of central paramilitary forces may visit villages to intimidate people, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked voters to be on guard, reports PTI.

Addressing a public meeting in Hooghly district, Banerjee alleged central forces are working on instructions of the "Union Home Ministry run by Amit Shah."

"I have respect for the central paramilitary forces but they are working on instructions from Delhi. They are committing atrocities on villagers before polling day, some of them are even harassing women. They are asking people to vote for BJP. We will not allow this to continue," the TMC chief said.

Banerjee called upon the state police force "to keep vigil and not to bow their heads before Delhi. "Your job is to ensure free and fair polls, please be stern with trouble makers and keep your integrity intact."

Asking villagers to lodge FIRs at local police station in case of any excess committed by central forces, the chief minister said, "If the police station refuses to accept the FIRs, inform us".

Blaming BJP for "spreading lies about promulgation of section 144 in an entire constituency," the TMC supremo said, "They (BJP) spreads lies to create panic. In reality, section 144 is in force within 200 metres of a booth. But they are doing this to prevent our voters from going to polling stations."

Banerjee asked polling agents to be vocal and to protest any "misdeed by BJP and security forces".

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

'How many complaints field against PM?': Mamata at rally

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is currently addressing a rally in Damjur, raked up the issue of the recent notice she received from the Election Commission. "It hardly matters even if 10 show cause notices are issued against me. I am telling everyone to vote unitedly, there will no division. How many complaints have been filed against Narendra Modi? He does Hindu-Muslim every day," she said.

Her comments come in the backdrop of the recent notice issued by EC the Trinamool Congress chief, on Wednesday, for her alleged appeal to Muslim voters while campaigning in Hooghly to not allow their votes to get split among different political parties.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

EC should stop Mamata from campaigning for making communal speeches: Babul Supriyo

Union Minister Babul Supriyo, who is trying his luck from the Tollygunge assembly seat, feels Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should be barred from campaigning for making “vitriolic and communal” speeches and taking Bengal’s political discourse to an “all-time low” as per PTI

Supriyo, one of most main faces of the BJP in Bengal and the Lok Sabha MP from Asansol, rejected opposition claim of having been “demoted” after being fielded for the assembly election, and said he himself wanted to contest the poll against a “formidable opposition and not a weak one”.

“Despite being a chief minister, the kind of comments that Mamata Banerjee is making is shameful. Through her vitriolic speeches and the communal campaign, she has taken the political discourse to an all-time low. The EC should ban her from campaigning for the entire election,” Supriyo said.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Of states having polls, only Bengal reported violence: Adhir Chowdhury

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday had said that of the four states and one union territory where assembly elections were held, incidents of violence were reported only from West Bengal and the BJP and the TMC are responsible for it.

Chowdhury, the West Bengal Congress president, however, told reporters that such incidents were fewer in West Bengal this time in the concluded three phases, thanks to the efforts of the Election Commission (EC). "Apart from West Bengal, three other states and one union territory are going through the polling process but one can hear incidents like attempt to capture booths, bloodshed and attacks only from our state," he said.

Five candidates, including two women, were attacked allegedly by workers of rival parties in West Bengal during the third phase of polling on Tuesday, even as Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged 'blatant misuse' of central forces to 'influence voters'.

-PTI

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Mamata supported anti-CAA protesters for vote bank: Aditynath

While addressing a campaign in Hooghly, Yogi Aditynath on Thursday alleged that Mamata Banerjee supported those who instigated violence during CAA protests.

"During CAA protests, TMC people were supporting those who were instigating violence. In UP, we put up hoardings of rioters and confiscated their properties. Mamata Didi can't do this as she sees them as TMC vote bank," said Aditynath.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

JP Nadda begins roadshow in Alipurduar

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Yogi Adityanath to campaign in Hooghly

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Aditynath will address a public meeting in Champadani in Hooghly district of Bengal. The fourth phase of the Assembly election will be held on 10 April.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Phase four on 10 April to cover 44 seats

As per the election commission's announcement, the fourth phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2021 is scheduled on Saturday (10 April). West Bengal is witnessing intense political fight between BJP, TMC and other parties ahead of the fourth phase of Assembly elections, in which 44 constituencies will go to polls.

In this phase five districts of Hooghly, Howrah, South 24 Pargana, Coochbehar and Alipurduar will go for polling.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Bengal only poll-bound state to report violence: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday said that of the four states and one union territory where Assembly elections were held, incidents of violence were reported only from West Bengal and the BJP and the TMC are responsible for it.

Chowdhury, the West Bengal Congress president, however, told reporters that such incidents were fewer in West Bengal this time in the concluded three phases, thanks to the efforts of the Election Commission (EC).

"Apart from West Bengal, three other states and one Union Territory are going through the polling process but one can hear incidents like attempt to capture booths, bloodshed and attacks only from our state," he said.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

JP Nadda to hold three roadshows

BJP president JP Nadda on Thursday will be holding three road shows in West Bengal. He will be holding two rallies in Alipurduar at 12.15 pm and 1.30 pm and is scheduled to address another in Mekliaganj at 3.15 pm.