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Tag: West Bengal elections 2021

  • ‘Will have to sacrifice 15 days of labour but don’t need to waste my vote’

    Raj Kumar Chaudhary, a resident of Malda district in West Bengal, is in a tearing hurry. He doesn’t need to miss the prepare again to his residence state as he has to solid his vote on April 29, which is the final section of elections in Bengal.
    “I do not want to waste my vote though it cost me dear. I have to sacrifice 15 days of labour as I will be back by May 5 after the results,” he mentioned.
    Chaudhary will not be the one labourer headed to Bengal. Many others are going with him as three phases of elections are but to be performed in Bengal on April 22, 26 and 29.
    Manoj Kumar of Uttar Pradesh (UP) had additionally boarded a particular personal bus close to Jalandhar Bus stand Tuesday as a result of panchayat elections are being performed there in varied phases.
    “I have been working in Jalandhar’s grain market for the past two decades and also work in potato fields. I came here in February for potato harvesting and wheat procurement in April and May, but this time, due to elections, I have to leave wheat procurement work midway,” mentioned Chaudhary.
    Dinkar Kumar of Murshidabad additionally boarded a prepare to vote on April 26.
    Nand Kishore, a resident of Bahraich in (UP), mentioned elections in his village will probably be held on April 26 and he got here to know that particular buses are being run by some personal firms to the state. “So I decided to go by bus instead of train through the fare of the bus is four times more,” he mentioned.
    Kishore spends round eight months of the 12 months in Punjab. For round 4 months he works within the grain mandis throughout procurement of wheat and paddy. The remainder of the time he pulls a rickshaw or does no matter different labour work he can get.
    Several labourers are returning their native states to vote, although they might have made good cash on the peak of wheat procurement season.
    In Jalandhar, many personal bus operators have change into lively and are working particular buses to UP forward of the subsequent section of panchayat elections there. These bus companies are charging Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 fare per individual.

    These buses will probably be run for the subsequent two days, mentioned a driver of 1 such bus.
    “Hum chaar paise bana lete hain kanak ki katai ke samay par chunav bhi jaruri hai isliye vapis ja rahe hain (We make good money during wheat procurement season but elections are also necessary that is why we are returning home),” he mentioned, including that he nonetheless felt dangerous about lacking out on work.

    “We earn minimum Rs 500 a day during harvesting season and this amount helps us a lot back home,” mentioned Amit Kumar of UP working in Jalandhar grain market.
    Rakesh Tuli, president of the Anaj Mandi Mazdoor Union, Punjab, mentioned a number of migrants who used to return for wheat season most popular to remain again as a result of elections in UP and West Bengal and people who had come are additionally going again as per the election date of their respective areas. “We had managed with local labour last year and this time also we have a good number of local labourers available with us,” he mentioned, including that even some are fearing lockdown like final 12 months and needed to return as quickly as doable to their native locations.

  • Hopes of whole nation in fingers of voters of West Bengal: Chidambaram

    Senior Congress chief P Chidambaram on Wednesday held the BJP answerable for the “medical catastrophe” within the nation and urged the individuals of West Bengal to talk for your entire nation whereas voting within the ongoing meeting polls.
    The sixth part of the meeting election within the state will likely be held on Thursday.
    “An election is to hold the government accountable. The BJP is solely responsible for the medical catastrophe that has fallen on the country. The hopes of the entire nation are in the hands of the voters of W(est) Bengal,” Chidambaram tweeted.
    “Voters in the 6th round of polling in West Bengal tomorrow (22 April) have a great opportunity to speak for the entire country,” he mentioned.
    The Congress chief condemned the present scenario as a result of COVID-19 within the nation. “What has changed since April 2020? If anything, things have become much worse,” he mentioned.
    Chidambaram additionally mentioned the plight of migrant employees, as proven on TV, in lengthy queues exterior railway and bus stations was “heart rending”.
    “There is no shortage of vaccines, says Health Minister. Believe the minister. There is only a shortage of patients. Central government will issue an advertisement calling for applications from patients who want vaccines,” he mentioned in one other tweet.
    “There is no crowding at railway stations, says Railway minister. Believe the minister. The long queues shown on TV channels are there only to assist the Railway Police to guard the stations,” he added.
    The Congress has been important of the dealing with of the pandemic in India, the place the COVID-19 an infection tally climbed to 1,56,16,130 on Wednesday, with 2,95,041 new circumstances, whereas the energetic caseload surpassed the 21-lakh mark.

  • TMC-BJP khela begins, 80% end up to vote in Bengal Phase 1; 77% in Assam

    THE FIRST PHASE of polling in 30 Assembly constituencies unfold throughout 5 districts in West Bengal on Saturday was marred by sporadic incidents of violence, complaints of rigging, and snags in Electronic Voting Machines. The state recorded nearly 80 per cent (79.79 per cent) voting.
    Assam, in the meantime, registered 76.89 per cent polling within the first part masking 47 of the state’s whole 126 Assembly constituencies. The first part will determine the destiny of a number of political heavyweights together with incumbent Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state Congress chief Ripun Bora and jailed activist Akhil Gogoi.
    In West Bengal, 4 out of 5 eligible voters solid their poll in every of the 5 districts: Purba Medinipur (82.51%), Jhargram (80.55%), Paschim Medinipur (80.12%), Bankura (79.9%) and Purulia (77.13%).
    As many as 191 candidates, together with 21 girls, are contesting within the first part. Of the voters dimension of 73.8 lakh, feminine voters quantity 36.27 lakh and male 37.52. Both the BJP and the Trinamool are contesting 29 seats every out of the entire 30.

    “Apart from some sporadic incidents, the polls in 30 constituencies were conducted peacefully. At least 10 people have been arrested in different incidents,” mentioned Aariz Aftab, Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal.
    In Assam, a complete of 264 candidates, together with 23 girls, are within the fray on this part, which has a complete of 81.09 lakh eligible voters. A complete of 11,537 polling cubicles had been arrange for the primary part. While the Congress, a part of the ‘mahajat’ has fielded its candidates in 43 out of 47 seats, the BJP is contesting in 39.
    After casting his vote in Dibrugarh, Sonowal tweeted, “My vote for the protection of Sabhyata, Sanskriti and overall development of Assam.” Posing along with his household after casting his vote in Gohpur, the Congress chief Bora informed the media that individuals needed a change and a Congress-led authorities within the state.
    Polling in West Bengal started underneath heavy deployment of Central forces — 732 firms within the 5 districts.
    Earlier within the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the individuals to vote. “Today, Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections begin. I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today to exercise their franchise in record numbers,” he tweeted.

    An enormous conflict erupted in Patashpur in East Medinipur Friday evening between TMC and BJP staff during which two safety personnel suffered critical accidents. Two individuals had been later arrested. On Saturday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate for the Salboni constituency, Sushanta Ghosh, was attacked by unknown individuals. State CEO Aftab mentioned seven individuals had been arrested within the case.
    During the day, the Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of capturing cubicles in Medinipur, and the Central forces of not permitting individuals to vote. Such complaints emerged from Kanthi Dakshin underneath Purab Medinipur and Garbeta in Paschim Medinipur. TMC supporters additionally alleged that within the South Contai Assembly constituency, regardless of voting for TMC, votes had been registered in BJP’s favour.
    Sources within the Election Commission in Delhi dismissed TMC’s allegations with regard to malfunctioning EVMs. To TMC’s declare that voters within the Kanthi Dakshin Assembly seat solid their vote for TMC however these had been registered in favour of BJP within the VVPAT machine, an EC official mentioned, “We got this claim verified and it was incorrect. In polling station 216, a VVPAT malfunctioned and it was subsequently replaced with another machine. However, some people had protested outside the polling station and interrupted voting briefly. The Presiding Officer of the polling station even submitted a report to us about this incident.”

    The BJP, then again, accused Trinamool of malpractices, and in addition claimed the present Assembly elections to be much less violent as compared with these prior to now.
    In Contai, BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari’s brother Soumendu’s automobile was attacked after he alleged that individuals had been being stopped from casting their vote within the space. “TMC goons were rigging three booths. When we protested they ransacked my car. I was inside and somehow not injured,” mentioned Soumendu Adhikari.
    A delegation led by BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya met the CEO after the incident. “This is the first election in six years with fewer instances of rigging and violence. To avoid even 10 per cent of such cases in Phase 2, we demanded that the EC round-up anti-social elements,” he mentioned.

    A nine-member Trinamool delegation led by MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay too met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) at 12 midday and raised objections over the BJP’s proposal to alter the present process on sales space brokers. “We have submitted a memorandum saying let the previous system — which required the polling agent to be a voter in the concerned booth — be retained,” mentioned Bandopadhyay.
    These guidelines can, nevertheless, be revised, mentioned CEO Aariz Aftab.

  • Modi’s go to to Bangladesh flouts ballot code, claims Mamata

    Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Bangladesh for “vote marketing” and his go to had violated the mannequin code of conduct (MCC) in power for the West Bengal Assembly polls. She mentioned she would quickly complain to the Election Commission (EC).
    Addressing a rally at Kharagpur in Paschim Medinipur, she mentioned, “They (BJP) used to say that I have brought people from Bangladesh and encouraged infiltration. But he went to Bangladesh for vote marketing… The election is underway in our state and he… delivered a lecture on Bengal. It is a total violation of MCC.”
    On a two-day tour to the neighbouring nation, Modi on Saturday supplied prayers at a temple, the birthplace of Matua neighborhood’s non secular guru Harichand Thakur, at Orakandi in Bangladesh’s Gopalganj district.
    Between 2011 and 2016, Matuas, who hint their ancestry to Bangladesh, rallied behind the TMC. However, within the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the neighborhood in North 24 Parganas and Nadia shifted to the BJP. According to consultants, Matuas have direct or oblique affect in a minimum of 70 Assembly seats in West Bengal. In its manifesto, the BJP has promised to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act.
    Citing the instance of Bangladeshi actor Ghazi Abdul Noor who was served a “Leave India” discover for campaigning for the TMC within the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Banerjee requested if Modi’s visa needs to be cancelled too.
    “In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when a Bangladeshi actor attended our rally, the BJP spoke to the Bangladesh government and got his visa cancelled. When the polls are underway here, you (Modi) went to Bangladesh to seek votes from one section of people. Why shouldn’t your visa be cancelled? We will complain to the EC.”

    In his speech at Orakandi, Modi mentioned his authorities would improve a women’ faculty and arrange a major faculty within the space.
    “I was speaking to some people here. They were saying who could have thought that India’s Prime Minister would visit Orakandi. I am feeling the same emotion,” he mentioned.

  • SC rejects plea difficult EC’s choice to carry WB Assembly polls in eight phases

    The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea difficult the Election Commission’s choice to conduct meeting elections over eight phases in West Bengal and in search of to bar the BJP and its leaders from utilizing “Jai Shri Ram” as a slogan through the marketing campaign.
    A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde initially advised the petitioner to method the Calcutta High Court.
    “I rely upon a judgement. This is not the matter of election petition. One party is using the religious slogan. Why should I go to the high court? ” advocate M L Sharma, the petitioner within the case, advised the bench.
    “You are asking for prosecution. How can we pass such an order. The only power lied with the high court, that to the election petition,” the bench, which additionally comprised Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, advised Sharma.
    When the petitioner referred a 1978 judgement of the apex courtroom, the bench requested him to point out the paragraphs within the verdict saying the highest courtroom can entertain a plea concerning malpractice in campaigning when the ballot course of begins.

    Sharma stated the matter be heard tomorrow, and the bench stated, “We can not learn it time and again, learn it proper now.
    “Alright, we don’t agree with you. Dismissed,”  the bench added.
    The plea had sought the apex courtroom’s course to cease the ballot panel from conducting eight-phase elections in West Bengal, alleging that it violates Article 14 (proper to life) and Article 21 (proper to life) of the Constitution.
    On February 26, the Election Commission had introduced the schedule for meeting elections to be held in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
    While the meeting polls in West Bengal can be held over eight rounds from March 27-April 29, polling in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry can be held in a single part on April 6 and in Assam over three phases.

    In his plea, Sharma had additionally sought a course to the CBI to register an FIR into the alleged chanting of non secular slogans throughout electioneering in West Bengal.
    The chanting of “Jai Shri Ram, other religious slogans are creating disharmony” and is an offence beneath the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the plea had stated.
    “Whether using a provocative religious slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is for electoral benefits as well as others is not violated S.123(3) & 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” reads the authorized query raised within the plea.
     

  • None from TMC retains relation with me, says Suvendu Adhikari’s father

    Image Source : ANI/FILE None from TMC retains relation with me, says Suvendu Adhikari’s father
    Senior Trinamool Congress MP Sisir Adhikari, whose sons Suvendu and Soumendu have joined the BJP, on Wednesday mentioned that nobody from his get together maintains any relation with him, whereas the ruling get together in West Bengal climed that it’s evident the place his soul is. The Adhikari household patriarch claimed that the TMC has additionally issued veiled threats that anybody from the get together protecting relations with him or his sons might be thrown out.

    “No one from the party contacts me,” he mentioned. Reacting to Adhikari’s feedback, TMC secretary normal Partha Chatterjee mentioned, “Sisir-da is a veteran individual.

    Everybody understands the place his soul is and the place he bodily is. Let him first determine on that.” Without naming any get together, Chatterjee additionally mentioned that it’s now clear which path Adhikari is headed to. Adhikari alleged that functionaries of the TMC have made deplorable feedback on him publicly, which even leaders of the Congress or the CPI(M) have by no means indulged in.

    While Suvendu and Soumendu have joined the BJP, one other son Dibyendu, who can be a TMC Lok Sabha MP, and Sisir Adhikari haven’t been attending any assembly or programme of the Mamata Banerjee-led get together for a number of months. Adhikari, who has been a TMC MP from Kanthi since 2009, has been in politics for a number of a long time.

    ALSO READ | Why PM Modi’s Bangladesh go to round Bengal polls is a ‘sensible transfer’
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  • Plea in SC challenges EC’s determination to carry polls in 8 phases in West Bengal

    A plea difficult the Election Commission’s determination to conduct meeting elections over eight phases in West Bengal was filed within the Supreme Court on Monday.
    The plea, filed by lawyer M L Sharma, seeks the apex courtroom’s route to the ballot panel to cease it from conducting eight-phase elections within the state because it violates Article 14 (proper to life) and Article 21 (proper to life) of the Constitution.
    On February 26, the Election Commission introduced the schedule for meeting elections to be held in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry.
    While the Trinamool Congress Party-led West Bengal may have elections over eight rounds from March 27-April 29, polling in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will likely be held in a single section on April 6 and in Assam over three phases.
    The plea, which can come up for listening to in few days, additionally seeks a route to the CBI to register an FIR into the alleged chanting of spiritual slogans throughout electioneering in West Bengal.
    The chanting of “Jai Shri Ram, other religious slogans are creating disharmony” and is an offence beneath the IPC and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the plea stated.

    “Whether using a provocative religious slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is for electoral benefits as well as others is not violated S.123(3) & 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” reads the authorized query raised within the plea. PTI SJK

  • EC removes Bengal’s ADG (legislation & order) Jawed Shamim a day after asserting ballot dates

    Image Source : FILE PHOTO/ PTI EC removes Bengal’s ADG (legislation & order) Jawed Shamim a day after asserting ballot dates
    A day after asserting the dates for meeting polls in West Bengal, the Election Commission on Saturday eliminated Additional Director General of Police (Law and order) Jawed Shamim and introduced in Jag Mohan in his place, an official order mentioned.
    Shamim, a 1995-batch IPS officer, will substitute Mohan because the DG Fire Services within the rank of ADG, the chief electoral officer (CEO) of the state mentioned within the order.
    The shuffle got here hours after a BJP delegation, which included MPs Swapan Dasgupta and Arjun Singh, met CEO Ariz Aftab and urged him to take away “biased” law enforcement officials from election responsibility.
    The Mamata Banerjee authorities had made Shamim, who was Special Commissioner of Police (II) of the Kolkata Police, the state ADG (Law and order) earlier this month forward of the meeting polls.
    Elections to the West Bengal meeting can be held in eight phases, up from seven final time. The first and final part of polling can be held on March 27 and April 29 respectively. Votes can be counted on May 2.

    On the elevated variety of phases within the state, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Friday mentioned when the EC assesses the legislation and order scenario, the evaluation relies on a number of elements and it additionally has to bear in mind prices and counter-charges by political events.
    “The way the police administration is functioning in West Bengal, it is evident that fair polling is not possible here. We can name a few police officers who are posted in the city. If they continue in their posts, free and fair elections are not possible,” Dasgupta advised reporters after assembly the CEO.
    He claimed that a number of requests to Kolkata Police Commissioner Soumen Mitra for a gathering on this connection fell on deaf ears.
    “That’s why we came to the commission today,” the BJP MP added.
    Besides being the Director General Fire Services, Shamim may also maintain the cost of DG Civil Defence until additional discover, the CEO’s order mentioned.
    Mohan, a 1991-batch IPS officer, may also be the state police nodal officer. 
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  • ‘Bengal desires its personal daughter’ is TMC’s new ballot slogan

    Image Source : PTI West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public assembly in Malda district.
    The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday launched its slogan for the upcoming meeting elections — ‘Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chaye’, including to the
    shrill insider vs outsider debate whereas portraying Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee because the daughter of Bengal.

    The slogan, which interprets to ‘Bengal desires its personal daughter’, with Banerjee’s photograph was put up on hoardings throughout Kolkata because the state’s ruling celebration formally launched it from its headquarters off EM Bypass.

    “The people of the state want their own daughter who has been by their side for the last several years as their chief minister. We don’t want outsiders to call the shots in Bengal,” TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee mentioned.

    The Trinamool Congress is engaged in a bitter political struggle with the BJP, pitching the opposition celebration’s leaders as outsiders who’re on “election tourism” to the state.

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    “The upcoming election is not a big factor for the Trinamool Congress. The entire country is watching how the Constitution can be protected and the outcome of the polls will prove that,” TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Subrata Bakshi mentioned.

    He mentioned the chief minister has already submitted a report card of the work achieved within the final ten years to the individuals of the state.

    “Which state has done so much? None,” Bakshi added.

    State Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee mentioned that whereas different events are struggling to discover a chief ministerial face, the Trinamool Congress has Banerjee who is aware of the heartbeat of the individuals of Bengal. Mukherjee mentioned she is aware of easy methods to defend the ladies.

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    Banerjee additionally has a soulful reference to rural Bengal and has constructed 34 lakh homes within the villages whereas offering electrical energy to 96 lakh households, he mentioned.

    Total 1.18 lakh km of rural roads have been constructed within the final ten years, Mukherjee mentioned.

    The celebration’s slogan of ‘Bodla Noy Bodol Chai’, that means ‘don’t desire revenge however change’, forward of the 2011 polls turned out to be essential in reaching out to the plenty who toppled the 34 years of Left rule in Bengal.

    The slogan of ‘Chup Chap Fuley Chap’ (vote for TMC in silence) throughout the Left rule can be thought of iconic.

    However, ‘Ma, Mati, Manush’ — the slogan Banerjee gave throughout the land agitation of the mid-2000s turned the ideology of the celebration, serving to it win rural Bengal together with the city areas, election after election.

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  • Bringing BJP to energy means encouraging riots: Mamata Banerjee in Malda rally

    Image Source : PTI West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public rally at Kalna, in Burdwan district.
    As political tussle between BJP and Bengal ruling authorities led by Trinamool Congress (TMC) continues to develop, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a recent salvo on Wednesday mentioned that bringing BJP to energy would imply encouraging riots.

    Speaking throughout a public rally in Malda, Mamata Banerjee mentioned, “bringing BJP to power means encouraging riots. If you want riots then cast your vote for BJP… You can’t defeat Mamata as she isn’t alone, she has the support of the people… Till the time I’m alive, I won’t allow BJP here.”

    However, after Mamata’s feedback on Wednesday, Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has been a vocal critique of the Mamata authorities and raised his issues on administration’s functioning repeatedly mentioned, “there is so much fear here that you cannot even speak about it. I have been vocal about this since I came here. Is it even hidden anymore? Fear and democracy cannot co-exist.”

    Earlier on Tuesday, BJP nationwide president JP Nadda attacked West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjeea’s nephew and Trinamool Congress’ Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee for utilizing objectionable phrases in direction of newly-inducted BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari and his father at a rally in East Midnapore’s Contai final week.

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    While addressing a gathering in Birbhum district’s Tarapith, Nadda mentioned, “What Abhishek Banerjee has said towards Suvendu Adhikari and his father Sisir Adhikari I can’t even utter those words. Power has easily come to him and that is why he doesn’t know how to respect it. He is a spoilt brat. This is not the culture of Bengal. Trinamool Congress has spoilt the culture of the state. We will bring back the lost culture heritage for which Bengal was always known for. This land belongs to luminaries like Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Rishi Arobindo.”

    The BJP president mentioned that Mamata Banerjee talks about Maa-Mati-Manush (Mother-Land-People) however by no means respects that. He mentioned that Bengal has a particular place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coronary heart.

    ALSO READ | Bengal’s tradition below menace in Mamata Banerjee rule: JP Nadda

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