4 states, UT go to polls from March 27

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 26

The Election Commission today announced the schedule for the Assembly elections in four states and a UT with voting to begin on March 27 and the votes to be counted on May 2. West Bengal will have maximum eight phases, Assam three while Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will go for single-phase voting.

The elections are expected to witness a determined attempt by the BJP to put up a strong show, including in Assam where it is already in power, as well as in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry where the party has been pushing hard in recent years.

At a media briefing to announce the poll dates, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said two special observers would be appointed for West Bengal while a third could also be sent if required. He was responding to queries on whether enough arrangements were in place in the state where questions were being raised about political violence. The elections in Assam will be conducted in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6, while polling in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will take place in a single phase on April 6. The elections in West Bengal will be held in eight phases, up from seven last time, beginning with polling for 30 seats on March 27.

Responding to questions on the increased number of phases in West Bengal, the CEC said, “The elections to West Bengal (Assembly) in 2016 were in seven phases. The Lok Sabha was in seven phases. So, seven to eight phases is not such a big deal because we also have to see the movement of forces, we also have to see the current charges and counter-charges (by political parties).” To keep a watch on the use of money power in Tamil Nadu, the EC has appointed two special expenditure observers. In Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, there will be single observer.

Arora said arrangements would be put in place for candidates to file their nominations online. Also, webcasting arrangements will be in place at polling stations in critical and vulnerable areas, while adequate paramilitary deployment would be ensured, he said. All critical and vulnerable areas had been identified and advance teams had already been deployed across the four states and the UT, he said.

Arora said the nationwide vaccination drive had made the situation more conducive for conducting elections and the Health Ministry had declared everyone on poll duty as frontline workers for vaccination purposes.

5 cars for roadshow

Door-to-door campaigning will be restricted to five persons, including the candidate, while roadshows will be allowed with a maximum of five vehicles.

Online nomination

There will be a provision to file nominations online. Voting will be allowed for an additional hour in view of Covid.

CEC retires on Apr 13

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora will demit office on April 13. “The challenge of the Bihar elections was indeed a watershed moment. It proved to be a litmus test,” he said.