Voting continues in 45 seats in Bengal amid strict adherence to Corona protocol, Section 144 applicable in 200 meter area

- Polling in 6 states besides West Bengal on Saturday

New delhi date. Saturday, April 17, 2021

Assembly elections are underway in West Bengal amid the Corona crisis. Voters have lined up at 45 assembly seats in the state since Saturday morning for the fifth phase of polling. Section 144 has been enforced in the 200-meter area of ​​the booth during polling time.

A total of 342 candidates are in the fray for 45 assembly seats in the fifth phase. All these seats are in districts like North 24 Parganas, East Vardhman, Nadia, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning tweeted urging the voters of West Bengal to cast their votes in large numbers.

EC's order regarding elections

In view of the deteriorating situation caused by the Corona virus, the Election Commission has issued new stringent orders for the West Bengal Assembly elections. As per the order, from now on, no political party can rally or campaign in Bengal after 7:00 pm. Not only that, from now on the election campaign has to be completed 72 hours before the polling. Earlier this time limit was 48 hours.

West Bengal has so far held elections in 135 constituencies and the remaining 159 seats will go to polls in four phases from April 17 to 29. In addition to West Bengal, polling will be held on Saturday in six states where there are by-elections for 9 assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat.