■ Mamata cancels big rallies in Kolkata amid COVID-19 surge
West Bengal CM pleads with EC to curtail poll phases
With folded hands, I request the EC to hold the next three phases on a single day. If not one day, conduct it in two days and save one day
— Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM
In view of a spike in COVID-19 cases in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her Trinamool Congress would organise small meetings in Kolkata and she would give short speeches in rallies in districts where polling would be held in the remaining three phases.
Speaking to a TV channel, Banerjee said she would shorten her speeches at campaign in different parts of the state to around 20 minutes or so from the usual time of 50 minutes to one hour so that the people don’t have to stay long at the meetings. “Yes, we have decided to hold small meetings, street corner-type ones, in the city in the campaigning for next three phases. We will not hold any big gathering any more. Also my speeches in the meetings addressed by me will be much shorter,” she said. TMC’s Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien tweeted, “Mamata Banerjee will NOT campaign 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.”
Meanwhile, Banerjee urged the EC to re-consider its decision to stick to original poll schedule, as she stressed that wrapping up last three phases of polls on a single day or at least in two days would check the spread of COVID to a certain extent. Indicating that EC may have decided against clubbing remaining phases at the behest of the BJP, she requested poll panel to prioritise public health.
“With folded hands, I request the EC to hold the next three phases on a single day. If not one day, 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 by curtailing the poll schedule, even if it is by one day,” she said.