Assembly Elections 2021 LIVE Updates: Amit Shah to address six poll events in West Bengal today

10:21 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST updates

RECAP: Five killed in poll violence, Modi-Mamata clash, EC acts tough

West Bengal plunged into chaos on Saturday when five people were killed, including four in CISF firing, during the fourth phase of polling, pushing the

Election Commission to bar entry of political leaders from outside in the troubled Cooch Behar district for the next 72 hours. The deaths, all in Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi, set off a political firestorm in the politically volatile state, with the ruling TMC and challenger BJP blaming each other for the

violence, the worst since the Assembly polls got underway. In a rare order, the Election Commission put in place restrictions, including extending the "silence period" from 48 hours to 72 hours, for the fifth phase of polling after the violence. Candidates will now not be allowed to canvass door to

door 72 hours before the end of the polling hour instead of the usual 48 hours prior to the conclusion of the exercise. It also barred the entry of politicians in Cooch Behar district for the next 72 hours to prevent any possible law and order flare-up and directed the union home ministry to deploy an additional 71 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF) for the next four phases of the polling.

 

Condoling the deaths in Cooch Behar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested the Election Commission to take stern action against those responsible for the incident and blamed the ruling TMC for perpetrating violence during the polls. He also accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of instigating people against the central forces, sensing defeat.  The chief minister, who rushed to North Bengal and said she will meet the bereaved families, demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and a reply from him on firing by the central forces which led to the death of people "standing in the queue to vote".

 

PTI

09:42 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST updates

EC should rename MCC as 'Modi Code of Conduct', tweets Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday tweeted," EC should rename MCC as Modi Code of Conduct! BJP can use all its might but NOTHING in this world can stop me from being with my people and sharing their pain.  They can restrict me from visiting my brothers and sisters in Cooch Behar for 3 days but I WILL be there on the 4th day!" 

The poll panel on Saturday barred the entry of politicians in Cooch Behar district for 72 hours to prevent any possible law and order flare-up, after four people were killed in the district as central forces opened fire allegedly when they were attacked by locals who "attempted to snatch their rifles" during the fourth phase of voting. Banerjee has been accusing the EC of "working at the behest of the BJP" and has also accused central forces of intimidating voters "under instructions from Union Home Minister Amit Shah". The poll panel had issued notice to Banerjee for her "completely false, provocative and intemperate statements" against central forces performing election duty. It had in March pulled up the TMC chief, saying it is not proper to belittle the institution by calling it as being close to the ruling party.

EC should rename MCC as Modi Code of Conduct!

BJP can use all its might but NOTHING in this world can stop me from being with my people & sharing their pain.

They can restrict me from visiting my brothers & sisters in Cooch Behar for 3 days but I WILL be there on the 4th day!

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 11, 2021

09:20 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election LATEST updates

Amit Shah to attend six poll events today

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah will hold three roadshows, address two townhall meetings and one public meeting at various places in West Bengal on Sunday, the party said in a tweet.

Schedule of Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah's public meetings in West Bengal on 11 April 2021.

• https://t.co/vpP0MI6iTu
• https://t.co/ZFyEVlvvQi
• https://t.co/lcXkSnweeN
• https://t.co/jtwD1yPhm4 pic.twitter.com/rWrfh7KYWM

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 10, 2021

Assembly Elections 2021 Latest Updates: Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah will hold three roadshows, two townhall meetings and one public meeting at various places in West Bengal on Sunday, the party said in a tweet.

Invoking its Constitutional powers, the Election Commission on Saturday put in place certain restrictions, including extending the "silence period" from 48 hours to 72 hours, for the fifth phase of polling in West Bengal after violence in Cooch Behar district.

It also barred the entry of politicians in Cooch Behar district for the next 72 hours to prevent any possible law and order flare-up.

The decision came after four people were killed in the district as central forces opened fire allegedly when they were attacked by locals who "attempted to snatch their rifles" during the fourth phase of voting on Saturday.

"The Election Commission of India further directs that the silence period for phase 5 (i.e. for polls scheduled on 17 April) shall be extended to 72 hours and no campaigning shall be permitted during 72 hours before the close of the poll in order to ensure the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections," an EC order said.

A total of 45 seats will go to the polls in the fifth phase in West Bengal.

The silence period — when public campaigning including rallies, meetings and press conferences cannot take place — is generally for 48 hours.

The order also said that in Cooch Behar, comprising nine assembly constituencies (AC numbers 1 to 9) where voting will be over by Saturday, no political leader from any national, state or other party should be allowed to enter the geographical boundaries of the district for the next 72 hours.

"This comes into force with immediate effect," the poll panel said.

The commission said it is issuing the order using its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution of India. It also cited some Supreme Court rulings to support its decision to use constitutional powers.

The order also cited a joint report of its two special observers Ajay Nayak and Vivek Dube.

The report said that recourse to open fire by the CISF personnel became "absolutely necessary" in order to save the lives of the voters lined up at the polling booth, those of other polling personnel and their own lives as the mob had attempted snatching their weapons also.

The order also said the special observers had not received the reports of the district magistrate and the superintendent of police (SP) of Cooch Behar well after 5 pm though TV channels had been quoting the SP as saying since 3 pm that the CISF men opened fire "purely" in self defence.

The order said it has been brought to the EC's notice that the last rites of the four persons killed in firing had still not been completed and that some political leaders may visit the area "with the ostensible purpose of condoling the bereaved families which however, has the potent to cause a law and order problem of major proportions in this place as well as the adjoining places".

It also said since the firing happened in a confrontation with CISF, "the chances of central forces deployed in this area becoming or being made the butt of further grave provocation by groups of people cannot also be ruled out".

April 11, 2021 at 09:43AM