West Bengal Elections Highlights: Ban TMC leader Firhad Hakim from campaigning, BJP writes to EC

Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, the BJP on Monday said it has decided against holding any big rally or public meeting. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that her party 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.

Pandemic becomes a political weapon in West Bengal polls

The second wave of the Covid-19 infections seems to have become a political weapon for both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP in West Bengal where Assembly elections are underway.

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Ban TMC leader Firhad Hakim from campaigning, BJP writes to EC

BJP writes to Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, requesting to censor and debar TMC leader Firhad Hakim from campaigning in the remaining phases of ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections for violation of model code of conduct

COVID challenges, 'Bangaliana', gender among strategies, fault-lines in Bengal's electoral battleground

The epic electoral 'Battle for Bengal' has seen the two bitter rivals BJP and Trinamool Congress change their poll strategies deftly as they square off against each other in a gruelling, one-and-half-month-long campaign.

From running a campaign on the 'Bangla nijer meyekei chay' (Bengal wants her daughter) theme and 'Duare Sarkar' (government at your doorsteps) programme, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has, however, changed tracks ahead of the last three phases of polling by attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for leaving India unprepared for the second Covid-19 wave.

Why not same passion to win war against Covid-19 as shown to win polls: Sibal to PM

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Tuesday asked why he was not showing the same passion to win the war against coronavirus as shown to win elections.

With the country reeling under a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Congress has questioned Prime Minister Modi for addressing poll rallies inWestBengalwhile "ignoring his responsibilities" at the Centre.

BJP seeks action against Mamata for statement 'amounting to incite mutiny in CAPF'

The BJP on Monday complained to the Chief Electoral Officer accusing Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee of making a statement that amounts to incite "mutiny" in the central armed police force (CAPF) deployed in West Bengal for the Assembly elections.

(PTI)

Bengal Cong chief urges EC to defer last three phases of Assembly polls

Amid the steep rise in Covid-19 cases in West Bengal, the Congress on Monday urged the Election Commission (EC) to defer the last three phases of assembly polls in the state.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked him to take a call on what was more important at this juncture - lives of people or polls to choose their representatives.

(PTI)

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during an election campaign rally for State Assembly Polls, in Uttar Dinajpur district, Monday, April 19, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

OPINION | Halt rallies in West Bengal

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has done well to call off all his election rallies ahead of the sixth, seventh and final phases of voting in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Other leaders and political parties would do well to follow his example.

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BJP decides to stop big rallies, events in West Bengal owing to Covid-19

Under attack from the Opposition for the poll blitzkrieg in West Bengal despite resurgent Covid-19, BJP on Monday announced that it will stop holding big public events in the state, flagging the need to break the chain of the coronavirus.

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TMC, BJP lock horns over the formidable Matua vote base

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whenever there is a major election in the state, leaders of all parties are eager to woo the Matua community. The reason is the sheer size of their population and their tendency to vote en bloc. Matuas are determining factor in at least 20 Assembly constituencies in the state,

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Good morning, readers. Welcome to your live coverage of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2021.