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

Assembly Election 2021 LIVE Updates: In an order, the poll panel curtailed the time for the campaign up to 7 pm. Earlier it was up to 10 pm.

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

Representational image. PTI

Highlights

20:46 (ist)

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. 
19:30 (ist)

Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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. 
18:07 (ist)

Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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. 
17:34 (ist)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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.
17:04 (ist)

Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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. 
16:12 (ist)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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.
15:27 (ist)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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.
15:22 (ist)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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.
13:27 (ist)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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.
13:24 (ist)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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.

LIVE NEWS and UPDATES

Apr 16, 2021 - 21:03 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

45 constituencies to go to poll tomorrow in fifth phase

Here is a list of 45 constituencies going to polls tomorrow

Sr no Assembly Constituency Name District
1 Darjeeling Darjeeling
2 Kurseong Darjeeling
3 Matigara-Naxalbari Darjeeling
4 Siliguri Darjeeling
5 Phansidewa Darjeeling
6 Dhupguri Jalpaiguri
7 Maynaguri Jalpaiguri
8 Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri
9 Rajganj Jalpaiguri
10 Dabgram-Phulbari Jalpaiguri
11 Mal Jalpaiguri
12 Nagrakata Jalpaiguri
13 Kalimpong Kalimpong
14 Santipur Nadia
15 Ranaghat Uttar Paschim Nadia
16 Krishnaganj Nadia
17 Ranaghat Uttar Purba Nadia
18 Ranaghat Dakshin Nadia
19 Chakdaha Nadia
20 Kalyani Nadia
21 Haringhata Nadia
22 Bidhannagar North 24 Parganas
23 Madhyamgram North 24 Parganas
24 Rajarhat Gopalpur North 24 Parganas
25 Rajarhat New Town North 24 Parganas
26 Baranagar North 24 Parganas
27 Kamarhati North 24 Parganas
28 Haroa North 24 Parganas
29 Minakhan North 24 Parganas
30 Barasat North 24 Parganas
31 Deganga North 24 Parganas
32 Sandeshkhali North 24 Parganas
33 Basirhat Dakshin North 24 Parganas
34 Basirhat Uttar North 24 Parganas
35 Hingalganj North 24 Parganas
36 Panihati North 24 Parganas
37 Dum Dum North 24 Parganas
38 Raina Purba Bardhaman
39 Jamalpur Purba Bardhaman
40 Manteswar Purba Bardhaman
41 Kalna Purba Bardhaman
42 Memari Purba Bardhaman
43 Bardhaman Uttar Purba Bardhaman
44 Khandaghosh Purba Bardhaman
45 Bardhaman Dakshin Purba Bardhaman

Apr 16, 2021 - 20:46 (IST)

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. 

Apr 16, 2021 - 20:39 (IST)

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

Apr 16, 2021 - 19:30 (IST)

Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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. 

Apr 16, 2021 - 18:07 (IST)

Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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. 

Apr 16, 2021 - 17:48 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

Meanwhile, EC prepares ground for fifth phase of election

Apr 16, 2021 - 17:34 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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.

Apr 16, 2021 - 17:04 (IST)

Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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. 

Apr 16, 2021 - 16:46 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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

Apr 16, 2021 - 16:18 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST Updates

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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Assembly Election 2021 LATEST News and Updates:  In an order, the poll panel curtailed the time for campaign up to 7 pm. Earlier it was up to 10 pm.

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

Politicos from BJP, TMC and Congress are holding rallies and roadshows in Bengal, encouraging a large congregation of crowds. CPM is the only party in the fray that has declared it will abstain from large rallies and conduct door-to-door campaign

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 in the state.

JP Nadda alleged at a rally in Ketugram that the state government had not let the money granted to the state’s farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to reach beneficiaries.

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.

Union minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda are scheduled to hold election rallies in West Bengal ahead of the fifth phase of polling on Saturday. Four phases of the Assembly election remain to be conducted on 17, 22, 26 and 29 April and the counting of votes cast in election in four states and one Union Territory will be held on 2 May.

Worried over the surge, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Thursday urged the Election Commission to think about conducting polls for the remaining assembly seats at one go, while also stressing that her party had opposed the prolonged eight-phase poll schedule.

"Amid an ongoing pandemic, we firmly opposed @ECISVEEP''s decision to conduct WB polls in 8 phases. Now, in view of the huge surge in #COVID19 cases, I urge the ECI to consider holding the remaining phases in ONE go," the CM said.

Arrangements for the fifth phase of polls, on 17 April, are already nearing completion, an election official said, even as several social media users held debates on whether the poll panel should at least conduct the next three phases of Bengal elections on a single day.

Assembly polls have been held for 135 constituencies so far in the West Bengal, and the remaining 159 seats are set go to the polls in the next four phases.

Updated Date: April 16, 2021 22:09:22 IST

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