New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticised the choice to conduct elections in seven phases for the 42 seats in West Bengal, arguing that there isn’t a substantial justification for such a chronic electoral course of and claimed that it favours wealthier political events.
Addressing a press convention, Chandrima Bhattacharya, the state’s Finance Minister, expressed disappointment that the Election Fee didn’t think about the West Bengal authorities’s proposal for a single or two-phase election. She contended that multi-phase elections have a tendency to profit events with larger monetary assets, offering them with an edge over others.
“We needed a single or two-phase Lok Sabha election in West Bengal. Our views had been {that a} multiple-phase election helps political events with deeper pockets, and provides them a bonus over others,” Bhattacharya stated.
Election Fee proclaims the Lok Sabha elections can be held throughout 7 phases in West Bengal.
Why are we towards it?
👉Voter turnout decreases resulting from a number of phases
👉It undermines the federal construction of the nation
👉It favors events with muscle & cash energyIt’s… pic.twitter.com/nsQGinsbBL
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 16, 2024
Referring to the 2021 meeting elections, which had been performed in eight phases because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bhattacharya questioned the need of seven phases for the upcoming polls and emphasised the absence of a legitimate rationale for such an prolonged electoral schedule.
“The 2021 meeting polls had been performed in eight phases and it was stated that this was being carried out because of the Covid pandemic. What’s the purpose for holding elections in seven phases now? There isn’t any legitimate purpose,” she stated.
Asserting their expectation of impartiality from the Election Fee, Bhattacharya said that her occasion hoped for truthful conduct through the electoral course of.
In the meantime, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray criticised the Election Fee for disregarding the views of the state authorities, labelling it as an affront to the federal construction of the nation.
“We fail to grasp the explanations behind holding the election over such a very long time. That is fairly shocking,” Ray stated.
Reacting to the ballot schedule, TMC chief Santanu Sen stated, “The legislation and order scenario in West Bengal is a lot better than in different BJP-ruled state. So logically and legitimately we demanded election in a single part. However the best way the BJP holds sway over the Election Fee, this isn’t shocking. Simply days forward of the polls, the Prime Minister himself sits to nominate the Election Commissioner. So it’s apparent that the highest ballot physique just isn’t impartial.”
VIDEO | Right here’s what TMC MP Santanu Sen (@SantanuSenMP) stated on the announcement of Lok Sabha 2024 elections schedule.
(Full video accessible on PTI Movies – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz)#LSPolls2024WithPTI #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/KA5MQxP8En
— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) March 16, 2024
“So far as Bengal is worried, they (Centre) are at all times able to malign the state. That is maybe the primary time since Independence that central forces had been deployed in our state even earlier than the ballot roster was introduced. Nonetheless, it’s unlucky that BJP didn’t study a lesson from the previous. The state elections in 2021 additionally spanned throughout eight phases, but they obtained a befitting reply from the individuals right here. Even within the subsequent bypolls and panchayat elections, individuals in Bengal have made it very clear about their alternative of governance,” he added.
“Conducting the election in seven phases is a deliberate try to disrupt the democratic course of. This schedule solely serves the pursuits of sure political factions,” TMC chief Ritabrata Banerjee stated.
Shri @RitabrataBanerj vehemently criticised the disproportionate seven-phase election in Bengal in comparison with single-phase elections in different states, labeling it as a deliberate try to disrupt the democratic course of.
He emphasised that elongating the election phases solely… pic.twitter.com/4zsPLuYX9O
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 16, 2024
West Bengal, together with Bihar and UP, will witness elections throughout all seven phases, commencing on April 19 and concluding on June 1. Vote counting is scheduled for June 4.
Within the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC secured 22 seats, whereas the BJP gained 18 and the Congress clinched two seats in West Bengal.