Campaigning on 152 seats of the first phase in Bengal stopped on Wednesday. Now voting will be held on these 152 seats in the first phase on April 23. With this, voting will be held on all 234 assembly seats of Tamil Nadu in a single phase on April 23. The Election Commission is fully prepared to conduct fear-free and fair elections.
Governor issued helpline number for fair and fear-free assembly elections
West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi on Tuesday announced that a 24×7 citizen helpline has been launched to make the upcoming two-phase assembly elections in the state (April 23 and April 29) free, fair and fear-free. In a statement issued by the Governor’s office on Tuesday evening, it was said that in the last few days, the Governor held several meetings with the general public, in which people expressed their concern about the violence happening before and after the elections.
The statement said many people shared their past experiences, which included incidents of violence during elections, killing of family members and being prevented from voting. Some people said that despite intimidation, they faced physical attacks when they voted.
According to the statement, the state administration and police have made elaborate security arrangements under the instructions of the Election Commission, yet Raj Bhavan has started a 24×7 helpline to help the people. The objective of this initiative is to ensure that every voter can participate in the democratic process without any fear.
The helpline will receive complaints, try to get them resolved quickly and help people reach the right institutional support. All complaints will be treated with complete sensitivity and confidentiality. An appeal has been made to all the voters of the state to participate enthusiastically in this great festival of democracy and definitely vote. Every vote is important.
Election Commission directs presiding officers to ensure transparency in use of EVMs
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued strict instructions to the presiding officers at all polling stations to ensure transparency and fairness in the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Commission sources stressed that the Presiding Officers must check and confirm that all the buttons of the candidates on the ballot unit are clearly visible and there are no obstructions. No button should be covered with tape, glue or any other material which may interfere with the voting process. The Commission has clearly said that no colour, ink, perfume or any chemical can be applied on the candidate button of the ballot unit, because such actions can compromise the secrecy of the votes.
Will not allow ‘Ghazwa-e-Bengal’ to happen in Bengal – Anurag Thakur
During the election campaign in Hooghly, West Bengal, BJP MP Anurag Thakur made a scathing attack on the Chief Minister of the state. He said that we will not allow ‘Ghazwa-e-Bengal’ to happen. People coming from outside have also eaten the grains of the local people.
Anurag Thakur said that Naxalism started from Naxalbari in Bengal. Naxalism spread in 126 districts of the country. Ten percent of the population was kept suppressed. After Modi government came to power in the country, action was taken against Naxalism and the country was made Naxalism free. If we can free the country from Naxalism then we can also free West Bengal from Bangladeshi infiltrators. He said that Mamata Banerjee has been the Chief Minister for 15 years, but is not able to count even 5 achievements. She was just whispering from morning till evening and now she is talking about fish on everything. Wherever there is BJP government, there are no restrictions regarding food, drink and clothing. Everyone lives in freedom. If our government is formed in West Bengal also then everyone will have the same freedom.
While raising slogans of ‘May 4, Mamata Gayi’, Anurag Thakur while addressing the public meeting said that if Mamata Banerjee does not go, then Rohingya Muslims will also come, infiltrators will also come, they will eat your mid-day meal money, cut money and will also take away your rights and jobs. He said that we will not allow Ghazwa-e-Bengal to be created in West Bengal.
