Mamata Banerjee asks whether election dates were announced at the instructions of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on February 26 questioned the causes for thr Election Commission of India determination to carry  the 2021 Assembly polls in the State in eight phases.

“West Bengal has 294 seats, why will elections be held here in eight phases? This is for the benefit of whom? There should be some rationale behind the decision,” Ms. Banerjee mentioned hours after the ECI announced the Assembly ballot schedule.

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This is the first time elections in West Bengal are unfold over eight phases. The earlier event when West Bengal went to polls with highest quantity of phases was throughout the 2019 Lok Sabha election when polls were performed in seven phases. 

The Chief Minister who can also be chairperson of Trinamool Congress mentioned these dates are as per the request of the BJP and raised sturdy objections to elections being held in numerous phases in the similar district.

“In South 24 Parganas since we are strong, elections are held in three phases… Is it at the instructions of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah,” she requested. 

Ms Banerjee additionally raised questioned on the appointment of police observers and mentioned one of them was deployed in State throughout the 2019 Lok Sabha polls additionally. 

The Trinamool Congress mentioned the Election Commission ought to take into account West Bengal “as their own State and not from the eyes of the BJP”.

The Chief Minister nonetheless, asserted that even in the 23-day election game, she would defeat the BJP as she is from the grass roots. “I know every nook and corner of West Bengal very well and will foil all conspiracy,” she mentioned.

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The BJP has welcomed the long-drawn election schedule and mentioned that it was a matter of disgrace that West Bengal has to have elections in so many phases was as a result of of the historical past of political violence.

“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seems to be mistaking Election Commission of India with the State Election Commission which has been working at whims and fancies of the State government and we have seen the results in local polls,” State BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya mentioned. 

Mr. Bhattacharya mentioned whereas in Opposition, Ms Banerjee has been demanding that Assembly polls in the State needs to be held in a number of phases with deployment of central forces.

BJP chief and social gathering observer in the State Kaliash Vijayvargiya additionally added that each one political events in the Opposition had demanded that polls be unfold throughout a number of phases. “There is also an urgent need to arrest those with criminal antecedents particularly in bordering areas,” he mentioned.

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The Left partiers and Congress additionally welcomed the determination and mentioned satisfactory central forces needs to be deployed effectively prematurely to make sure that the polls are held free and honest. Communist Party of India ( Marxist) chief Md. Salim mentioned that eight part polls replicate regulation and order scenario in the State. He additionally emphasised that greater than growing quantity of phases the election equipment needs to be energetic on days of the polls to make sure free and honest polls.