Elections in West Bengal in the midst of Covid19

Sukalpa Dhar, Kolkata: Elections are the biggest festivals of democracy. The West Bengal Legislative Assembly election 2021 schedule was announced on 26th February 2021. It is being held in 8 phases. It is scheduled between 27th March 2021 to 29th April 2021. West Bengal has a total of 23 districts. The first phase of voting was held on 27th March 2021 while the subsequent rounds took place on 1st, 6th, 10th, 17th, 22nd, and 26th April 2021. But this year Covid 19 has put forward a big challenge to mankind. Covid 19 has very badly affected the political parties. After sharp criticism from the Calcutta High Court, the election commission has imposed strict restrictions on campaigns to combat the sharp rise in the Covid19 cases in the state. Political leaders are cancelling their rallies in the state.

In the first phase, there were a total number of 30 seats. The districts covered were Paschim Midnapore Part I, Purba Midnapore Part I, Bankura, Jhargram, and Purulia. The date of notification was 2nd March 2021. The last date of nomination was 9th March 2021. The scrutiny of nomination was on 30th March 2021. The last date of withdrawal of candidature was on 12th March 2021. The voting date was on 27th March 2021.
The voting for the second phase of the Bengal election began on 1st April 2021, Thursday. Here too there were a total of 30 seats. In this phase, a total of four districts cast their votes. The districts covered were: South 24 Parganas Part – I, Bankura Part – II, Paschim Midnapore Part II, and East Midnapore. The date of notification was 5th March 2021. The last date of nomination was 12th March 2021. The scrutiny of nomination was on 15th March 2021. The last date of withdrawal of candidature was on 17th March 2021. The voting date was on 1st April 2021.

The voting for the third phase of the Bengal election began on Tuesday, 6th April 2021. There were 31 seats. In this phase, elections took place in Howrah, Hooghly, and South 24 Parganas. The date of notification was 12th March 2021. The last date of nomination was 19th March 2021. The last date of withdrawal of candidature was on 22nd March 2021. The voting date was on 6th April 2021.

The voting for the fourth phase of Bengal elections began on 10th April 2021. In this phase, elections took place in Howrah (Part 2), South 24 Pargana (Part 3), Hoogli (Part 2), Alipurduar (all the 5 constituencies), Cooch Behar (all the 9 constituencies). The date of notification was 16th March 2021. There are a total number of 44 seats. The last date of nomination was 23rd March 2021. The scrutiny of nomination was on 24th March 2021. The last date of withdrawal of candidature was on 26th March 2021. The voting date was on 10th April 2021.

The voting for the fifth phase of Bengal elections began on Wednesday 17th April 2021. This phase covered the districts Nadia (Part 1), Bardhaman (Part 1), Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri. Here there were a total of 45 seats. The date of notification was 23rd March 2021. The last date of nomination was 30th March 2021. The scrutiny of nomination was on 31st March 2021. The last date of withdrawal of candidature was on 3rd April 2021. The voting date was on 17th April 2021.

The voting for the sixth phase of Bengal elections began on 22nd April 2021. The date of notification was 26th March 2021. This phase covered the districts North Pargana (Part-II), Purbo Bardhaman (Part-2), Nadia (Part-3), Uttar Dinajpur. Here there were a total of 43 seats. Here 4 districts are covered. The date of notification was 26th March 2021. The last date for the nomination was 3rd April 2021. The scrutiny of nomination was on 5th April 2021. The last date of withdrawal of candidature was on 7th April 2021. The voting date was on 22nd April 2021.

The voting for the seventh phase of Bengal elections began on 26th April 2021. The date of notification was 31st March 2021. The districts that voted in this phase included Dakshin Dinajpur, Kolkata South, Malda (Part – I), Murshidabad (Part 1), and Paschim Bardhaman. Here there are a total of 36 seats. Here 5 districts are covered. The date of notification was 31st March 2021. The last date of nomination was 7th April 2021. The scrutiny of nomination was on 8th April 2021. The last date of withdrawal of candidature was on 12th April 2021. The voting date was on 26th April 2021.

The voting for the eighth phase in Bengal takes place today as it will be the last and final phase of the West Bengal elections. In this 8th phase Murshidabad, Birbhum, Malda (Part – II), and Kolkata North attended the polls. There are a total number of 35 seats. 4 districts are covered here. The date of notification was 31st March 2021. The last date of nomination was 7th April 2021. The scrutiny of nomination was on 18th April 2021. The last date of withdrawal of candidature was on 12th April 2021. The voting date was 29th April 2021. The final phase is on April 29. Counting of votes and declaration of results in all 294 assembly constituencies are scheduled for 2nd May 2021.

Amidst a second raging wave of Covid19, over 86 lakh voters of West Bengal will decide the political fate of 284 candidates, when 34 assembly constituencies including, the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s home ground Bhawanipur are polling in the seventh phase. The increasing rise in the graph of Covid across Bengal has posed a great challenge for voters in the 7th round of Bengal elections. Elections in Jangipur and Samserganj seats in Murshidabad have been postponed to 16th May following the demise of candidates due to Covid19. An independent candidate from Baisnabnagar in Malda district died after testing Covid positive.

The parties are really worried about the rising Covid19 pandemic graph. West Bengal has around 95,000 active Covid 19 cases. It reported around 16,000 infections and 68 deaths on Monday, 26th April 2021. It can have a really big impact on the election results. As many people won’t be able to come out of their houses as they are affected to cast their votes. Generally, masses go out and cast their votes in polling booths but this time due to the spread and fear of Covid19 people are moving backward. Some are afraid that if they go out and cast their votes in the process they will catch Covid 19. Hence, the rate of votes will automatically come down.

The Left Front Government ruled West Bengal for 34 long years i.e. from 1977 to 2011. In the 2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, the Left Front was defeated and the Trinamool Congress won an absolute majority of seats. The Trinamool Congress again won the Panchayat elections in 2013 and in the 2014 Indian general elections winning a maximum number of Lok Sabha seats. In the 2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election, the Trinamool Congress again won with a huge margin. However, in the 2019 general elections, the BJP could manage to secure 18 out of 42 seats. By the way, it is difficult to predict who is going to win this Bengal election. There are lots and lots of permutation and combinations. The BJP can win Bengal for the first time or Trinamool Congress can score a hat-trick. What will happen? Only results will say.