West Bengal Election Trivia: Last Phase of Polling Commences, 283 Candidates in Fray

Kolkata: West Bengal commenced its final electoral phase today morning. Despite norms being issued by the EC to contain the spread of infection due to the polling crowd, long ques of people were seen violating precautions waiting for their turn to vote.

Over 84.77 lakh voters will decide the political fate of 283 candidates in this phase. 35 constituencies in four districts are being polled. 11,860 polling booths are set up across 11 assembly constituencies each in Murshidabad and Birbhum, six in Malda, and seven in north Kolkata. 

Two ministers Shashi Panji and Sadhan Pande are seeking re-election in this poll-related violence district, Birhbhum. Several political illnesses owing to COVID were reported. Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, a BJP candidate from English bazar tested Covid-positive, and is admitted to a hospital in Kolkata.  Nandita Sinha, the wife of Trinamool Congress candidate Kajal Sinha died of Covid and an independent candidate from Malda’s Baisabnagar also succumbed to COVID.

Meanwhile, BJP president Nadda’s Twitter handle featured a tweet urging all the citizens to follow COVID-19 protocols. The tweet in Hindi read- ” The eighth and final phase of the West Bengal polls is underway. I appeal to people to vote for Sonar Bangla while following COVID-19 protocols.” Actor-politician Mithun Chakraborty, BJP leader also was witnessed whilst he cast his vote at Kashipur-Belgachia polling station in North Kolkata. 

In spite of heightened security and extra task force deployment, violence made its way through after a bomb was hurled near Mahajati Sadan Auditorium in north Kolkata. The EC has sought for a probe into the incident. However, no casualties were reported.