2019 Lok Sabha polls: TMC blames Modi govt for 'misleading' EC; opposition welcomes prolonged poll schedule

“The central government has targeted West Bengal in order to ensure that minority community people can’t come out to vote in large numbers due to fasting in the Ramzan month,” said the TMC leader soon after the dates for Lok Sabha elections were announced.

Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal (Source: PTI)

Kolkata: Questioning the timing and poll schedule of the 2019 general elections in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim hit out at that Narendra Modi-led central government, claiming that they  had “misled” the Election Commission about the law and order situation in the state. “The central government has targeted West Bengal in order to ensure that minority community people can’t come out to vote in large numbers due to fasting in the Ramzan month,” said the TMC leader soon after the dates for Lok Sabha elections were announced. He added,”Such a prolonged polling process will put a lot of pressure on the people because of the month of Ramzan and the summer in April and May. We have full faith in the Election Commission. We are not afraid of a seven-phase election.” Hakim also exuded confidence and claimed that the TMC will defeat the Narendra Modi government in the elections and the country will have a new pro-people government at the Centre. "We have full faith in the Election Commission. The central government has targeted West Bengal in order to ensure that minority community people can't come out to vote in large numbers due to fasting in the Ramzan month. "We are not afraid of a seven-phase election. The people of Bengal are with the TMC and Mamata Banerjee," Hakim said. Hakim said TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will campaign in various states. "We will defeat the Narendra Modi government in the elections and the country will have a new pro-people government at the Centre," he said. Banerjee, a prime mover of the anti-BJP front, in January had organised a mega opposition rally of 23 parties at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground and had given the call to defeat the Modi government. CPI(M) politburo member Mohammed Salim said, "The seven-phase election reflects the law and order situation in the state... how people were stopped from exercising their democratic rights." He was referring to the violence that took place during the panchayat polls in the state last year. "We hope that the polling will be held in a free and fair manner and the EC will be impartial, proactive and responsive," Salim said. The state units of BJP and the Congress too welcomed the Lok Sabha polls. "It shows the kind of law and order (situation) now prevailing in West Bengal," BJP leader Mukul Roy said. West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra also echoed the views of the CPI(M) and the BJP. Earlier on Sunday, the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019, which will be held in seven phases starting from April 11 and conclude with counting on May 23 for all phases. The first phase of polling will be held on April 11, second phase on April 18, third phase on April 23, fourth phase on April 29, fifth phase on May 6, sixth phase on May 12 and seventh phase on May 19.