WB Assembly Elections 2021: Poll Observers Told ECI That Final Two Phases Can Be Clubbed If Security Boosted

ECI highly unlikely to take poll observers suggestion to club the election into one. On Tuesday, the West Bengal reported 9,819 new Covid cases and 46 deaths. 

Armed CRPF Officer outside a polling station in West Bengal during Phase V of voting (Image Source: PTI)

Kolkata: West Bengal has three phases of voting left for the Assembly Elections; in view of the ongoing Covid crisis and the poll observers in the state set by the Election Commission of India has indicated that the final two phases set for April 26 & 29 can be clubbed together if more security is provided. 

In a letter to the ECI, observers Ajay Nayak and Vivek Dube suggested the idea late last week though the panel is yet to respond. 

According to HT report, “At the moment, there are 1,000 companies that are stationed in Bengal. The next phase is too close so nothing can be done about that. However, because the ECI is aware of the seriousness of the Covid situation, the observers suggested merging the last two phases but added that 500 additional companies of forces will be needed,’’ said an unnamed senior election offical, who has seen the letter.

The official further told HT, that the letter mentioned that at least 25 people were infected in the office of the Bengal chief electoral officer and that two candidates had died after testing positive.

Another anonymous senior EC official told HT that it is unlikely that the panel would follow through with the suggestions and was quoted as saying, “The extra forces is just one part of it. They are posted across the country, and sending them to Bengal needs advance notice and that would be ideally three to four months earlier.” He also added that the changes in Phase 6 and 7 couldn’t be enacted because it would violate the candidates’ right under the Representation of the People’s Act 1951. “If required, we can make the Covid provisions even stricter, between 26th and 29th; due to our extra silence hours, there would hardly be left any campaigning time,” said the official.

Recently, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the Election Commission to club the remaining three phases of state assembly election. "With folded hands, I request Election Commission to hold three phases of polls on a single day or in two days. Please don't play with the lives of people", she said. TMC member Derek O'Brien informed that CM Mamata Banerjee will not be campaigning in Kolkata anymore. "Only one ‘symbolic’ meeting on the last day of campaigning in the city on April 26. Slashes time for all her election rallies in all districts. Restricted to just 30 minutes," he wrote. Covid cases around the country almost reached the 3 lakh mark in the last 24 hours. On Tuesday, the West Bengal reported 9,819 Covid cases and 46 deaths.