Mamata seeks single-day Bengal polling amid surge in coronavirus cases

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged the Election Commission to conduct the remaining phases of the ongoing Assembly elections in a single phase in view of the current surge in Covid-19 cases. She said doing so would protect the state’s people from being exposed further to the virus. “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. This will protect the people from further exposure to #COVID19,” she tweeted.

Earlier on Thursday, the EC clarified that there were no plans to merge the rest of the phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections despite speculations. Polling for four of the eight phases is over and the fifth is scheduled for Saturday, where 319 candidates will contest for 45 constituencies across the six districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman.

Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal called for an all-party meeting, asking all political parties to adhere to Covid guidelines. “A meeting has been called by CEO West Bengal to ask all political parties to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines mandated by the Election Commission for strict compliance,” an EC official said. The meeting comes after directions issued by the Calcutta High Court. Earlier last week, the EC had written to all national and state parties asking them to follow all relevant guidelines during public meetings, rallies and other activities. The apex electoral body also took a “serious view of the laxity in maintaining norms, particularly not wearing masks by political leaders on stage.”