New Delhi: Polling was today conducted peacefully in 15,789 Polling Stations spread across 45 Assembly Constituencies, in the fifth phase of elections in the State of West Bengal as well as in the Bye-Election in 2 Parliamentary Constituencies and 12 Assembly Constituencies across 10 States, the Election Commission of India stated here.
Bye-Elections were conducted in the Assembly Constituencies Morva Hadaf (ST), Gujarat; Madhupur, Jharkhand; Basavakalyan and Maski (ST), Karnataka; Damoh, Madhya Pradesh; Pandharpur, Maharashtra; Serchhip (ST), Mizoram; Sahara, Sujangarh (SC) and Rajsamand, Rajasthan; Nagarjuna Sagar, Telangana and Salt, Uttarakhand today.
Besides, bye-Elections were also conducted in the Parliamentary Constituencies Tirupati (SC), Andhra Pradesh and Belgaum, Karnataka today.
In West Bengal, voting took place in 45 Assembly seats in districts including Darjeeling, East Bardhaman Part I, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Nadia Part I, and North 24 Parganas Part I. This phase is crucial for the ruling Trinamool Congress, which had won 32 of these seats in 2016. At that time the Left-Congress alliance had bagged 10 seats.
Polling at 56-Samserganj Assembly Constituency and 58-Jangipur Assembly Constituency West Bengal scheduled on April 26, 2021 was adjourned due to death of Indian National Congress candidate and Revolutionary Socialist Party candidate respectively. Polling in Bye-Election to Pipili Assembly Constituency Odisha was adjourned due to death of Indian National Congress candidate. These political parties will be provided an opportunity to nominate another candidate for which fresh notification shall be issued by the Commission.
Only one candidate filed nomination for Bye-Election to Noksen (ST) Assembly Constituency in Nagaland. Hence the candidate was elected unopposed.
In the Phase V of West Bengal Assembly Elections, the total number of Persons with Disability electors and 80+ electors were 60,198 and 1,79,634 respectively. A total of 15,789 Ballot Units (BUs), 15,789 Control Units(CUs) and 15,789 VVPATs were used in West Bengal during this phase. 8266 (52.35%) out of 15789 polling stations are monitored live through webcasting.
During the ongoing elections till this phase in West Bengal, a record seizure of Rs.310.50 Crores has already been reported till date. The seizure figure, which includes seizure of cash, liquor, narcotics, freebies etc., is 7 times of the total seizure of Rs. 44.33 Crores in GE LA 2016. The progressive seizure of all five States/UT where assembly elections have been/are being held, as on date is Rs.1013.1 Crore (this includes seizures of Rs.12.11 Crore in bye-elections also)
To control the spread of Coronavirus, the Election Commission invoked powers under Article 324 to curtail the timing of campaign. Silence period has been extended from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining 3 phases. The Commission had written to political parties for taking additional measures to deal with COVID-19.
– global bihari bureau
