Mamata cancels all Kolkata events, BJP curtails rally crowds
With folded hands, I request EC to hold the next three phases of polls on a single day... Please don’t take your decision based on what the BJP says. MAMATA BANERJEE, Bengal CM, in an appeal to the EC
NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided on Monday to scale back their campaigns for the ongoing West Bengal elections in the face of rising coronavirus cases and sharp criticism of rampant violation of Covid-19 protocols in rallies.
The TMC said chief minister Mamata Banerjee will address no events in Kolkata, save one symbolic rally on April 26. The BJP said it will limit audience at public events to 500, and hold meetings only in open spaces.
The announcements came on a day the state posted 8,426 cases and 38 deaths, pushing its tally to 668,353 and death toll to 10,606, respectively.
“Mamata Banerjee will not campaign in Kolkata anymore. Only one ‘symbolic’ meeting on the last day of campaigning in the city on April 26 will be held. She slashed time for all her election rallies in all districts and is now restricted to just 30 minutes,” party MP Derek O’brien said in a tweet. On Sunday, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he will not address any rallies.
On Monday – the last day of campaigning for the sixth phase — Banerjee said at her rally in Chakulia: “With folded hands, I request EC to hold the next three phases of polls on a single day. If not one, conduct it in two days and save one day. Please don’t take your decision based on what the BJP says. Please ensure that you protect public health.”
The BJP hit back. Union home minister Amit Shah said, “Constitutionally, the EC has no other option but to conduct elections. Mamata Ji makes comments without reading the Constitution.”bjp’s social media in-charge Amit Malaviya said that the party will leverage its digital footprint to take its message to the people.
Top EC officials test +ve Chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra and election commissioner Rajiv Kumar have both tested positive for Covid-19, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.