Election Dates 2021 HIGHLIGHTS: PM's Kerala, Tamil Nadu Visit Cancelled As Model Code Of Conduct Comes Into Effect
Election Dates 2021: Addressing a press conference in the national capital on Friday, the Election Commission announced dates of Assembly Elections in as many as 4 states and 1 union territory. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry are due for assembly elections in April-May this year. The poll panel had convened a press conference at 4.30 pm.
Background
The Election Commission of India will reveal the much-awaited poll dates in an important press conference at 4:30 pm today. The poll panel is expected to announce dates for elections to the legislative assemblies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry today.
It may be noted here that elections are due in four states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam and in the union territory of Puducherry. Election campaigning is already underway at a hectic pace in all four states and the UT of Puducherry.
It was much anticipated that EC will announce the dates of assembly elections in the first week of March. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a public meeting at Silapathar in Assam’s Dhemaji district, said, “Last time in 2016, the Assembly poll dates were announced on March 4. This year, it is my assumption that EC will announce the dates for Assembly Polls by March 7. It is up to them (EC) to announce the dates but till the announcement is made, I will visit Assam, West Bengal, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala as much as I can.”
While 294 Assembly seats are slated to go to polls in West Bengal, 234 seats are up for grabs in Tamil Nadu, 140 seats in Kerala, 126 seats in Assam, and 30 seats in Puducherry.
All eyes are on the West Bengal Assembly Election as BJP has begun rigorous campaigning in the state eyeing to make inroads on Mamata's turf.
The Election Commission is closely monitoring the situation in all 5 poll-bound states, and security forces have already been deployed in West Bengal.
PM's Kerala, Tamil Nadu Visit Cancelled As Model Code Of Conduct Comes Into Effect
Narendra Modi's visit to Kerala on Feb 27 and Tamil Nadu on Feb 28 has been cancelled due as the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into effect in the poll-bound states after Election Commission announced polling dates earlier in the day. West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will go for polls, starting March 27. Result for all Assembly polls will be announced on May 2.
Mamata Banerjee Slams EC On Bengal Poll Dates
Soon after the Election Commission announced that the West Bengal Assembly Polls will he held in 8 phases starting March 27, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a press conference to slam the poll body questioning the reason behind why eight phases of voting has been decided for the state.
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