NEW DELHI: Political parties on Sunday welcomed the Election Commission’s poll dates announcement for 4 states and one Union Territory. West Bengal will vote in two phases starting April 23, while Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will go to the polls on April 9, and Tamil Nadu on April 23; results for all will be declared on May 4.In 2021, West Bengal voted across eight phases and Assam in three. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry may see single-phase polling, while West Bengal and Assam are likely to have multiple phases due to larger electorates.
Welcoming the EC’s move to conduct Bengal elections in two phases, the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party called it a “civilisational battle”. Congress too welcomed EC’s move to conduct polls in 2 phases in the state, however TMC said that the number of phases was just a “reflection of what the BJP wants”.
The poll panel earlier announced that Assembly elections to the 294 seats in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and others welcomed the announcement by EC to conduct a single-phase voting in the state.
How BJP reacted
Welcoming the move, BJP voiced confidence in winning polls in West Bengal saying the “countdown to the end of Mahajungle Raj has begun”, referring to TMC government in the state.“This is not merely an election, it is a civilisational battle. On 23rd and 29th April, the people of West Bengal will cast their vote in two phases to reclaim their future. The countdown to the end of Mahajungle Raj has begun. 50 days to go — 4th May will mark a new dawn for Bengal,” the Bengal BJP unit of Bengal said in a post on X.
How TMC reacted
The All India Trinamool Congress played down the EC’s decision to conduct the Bengal elections in two phases, alleging that the poll schedule was determined based on the “requirements of its political masters.”The party also questioned what it termed the commission’s “duality”, pointing out that the 2021 assembly elections in the state were held in eight phases despite high Covid-19 infections, whereas the upcoming polls have been limited to just two phases.“The number of phases is solely a reflection of what the BJP wants and the Election Commission has only adhered to the requirement of its political masters,” TMC spokesperson, Arup Chakraborty said.“Else, how can one justify conducting eight-phase polls in the state in 2021 when people were dying of Covid infections and deciding to hold the polls in two phases now when there is no such bug. The number of polls doesn’t matter, people will demolish the BJP irrespective of that,” Chakraborty added.
How Congress reacted
Congress hailed EC’s announcement that elections will be held in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu in one phase and that elections will be held in West Bengal in two phases.“I welcome the announcement that elections will be held in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu in one phase and that elections will be held in West Bengal in two phases. I am glad that the number of phases has been compressed to one phase/two phases,” P Chidambaram said in a social media post. Senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya welcomed the decision to conduct assembly elections in West Bengal in two phases, but expressed concern over whether voters would be able to exercise their franchise freely and without intimidation.The former chief of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee said he had raised the issue of alleged voter intimidation during his interaction with the full bench of the Election Commission of India during its recent visit to the state.“I welcome the Election Commission’s move to hold the polls in West Bengal in two phases. But my only concern is that the electors can cast their votes freely and without any fear,” Bhattacharya told PTI. “I have seen many elections when voters could not cast their votes even when there were six or seven phases of elections,” he added.
How DMK, AIADMK reacted
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), along with other political parties in Tamil Nadu, on Sunday welcomed the announcement of the Assembly election schedule by the Election Commission of India and expressed confidence of winning the April 23 polls.A DMK office-bearer, Salem Dharanidharan, said that since party president and chief minister MK Stalin assumed office, his focus has remained on governance and public welfare, adding that the state government’s schemes are now being replicated across the country.He also said the party’s preparations for the polls effectively began the day Stalin took charge as chief minister. “The DMK would secure a huge victory in the polls…it will be a sweep; winning more than 200 seats out of the 234,” he said.Meanwhile, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said, “Our party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami has already covered campaign in nearly 200 constituencies. We are ready to face polls even tomorrow and whenever it is held we are going to win.” He added that people are backing the AIADMK and expressed confidence that the party and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance—including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and Pattali Makkal Katchi—would secure a major victory and form the next government in the state.
