admin Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday gave full credit to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for ensuring overall peaceful and violence-free polls in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly election being held in 152 constituencies.
“Today, the first phase of voting in West Bengal is underway. I congratulate all the voters. Everyone should celebrate the festival of democracy. There has been less violence this time so far. Earlier, people were hanged, and the ruling party claimed it was suicide. I congratulate the Election Commission of India,” the Prime Minister said while addressing a campaign rally at Krishnanagar in Nadia district, which is going to polls in the second phase on April 29.
The Prime Minister also expressed confidence in the high polling percentage recorded till afternoon and the enthusiasm with which voters were waiting in long queues in front of the polling booths, ignoring the scorching heat, to cast their votes.
“The manner in which the polling is going on, and the enthusiasm with which the voters are voting, it seems all records will be broken this time. The state government employees are working responsibly to make the polling process peaceful. I congratulate all of them,” the Prime Minister said.
‘I took jhalmuri and the people felt the heat’ Speaking on the occasion, he also indirectly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, without taking her name, over the latter’s jibes about PM Modi’s unexpected stop in Jhargram for a quick bite of the popular Bengali street snack — the ‘jhalmuri’, during his last campaign rally in the state on April 19.
Voters queue up to cast their votes outside a polling station in Berhampore, Murshidabad district, on Thursday.
AFP
“I heard that my jhalmuri matter jolted some people here. The funny thing is that I consumed Jhalmuri, and the Trinamool Congress felt the heat. After the results are declared on May 4, the BJP will celebrate victory in West Bengal. At that time, both sweets and jhalmuri will be distributed,” the Prime Minister said.
According to him, in West Bengal elections this time, the battle is more between “Trinamool Congress and common people” rather than between “the BJP and Trinamool Congress”.
“This time, the state government employees are voting after coming out of fear. Doctors are voting for better medical systems. Lawyers are voting to ensure justice. Teachers are voting for a fear-free educational system. The police are voting to serve the public,” the Prime Minister said.
He also said that during his recent tours, he had realised how the people of West Bengal are frustrated with the misrule of Trinamool Congress. “I have realised how sick people are of corruption, extortion, and hooliganism. There are many districts, where Trinamool Congress will not be able to open their accounts this time,” the Prime Minister said.
“Krishnanagar is voicing strong discontent against TMC’s misgovernance and lack of accountability. People are tired of its corruption and inefficiency,” the PM said.
PM Modi lays down ten-point guarantee for ‘sisters of Bengal’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hitting the hustings in West Bengal on Thursday, gave a ten-point guarantee to the “women and sisters” of the state and outlined new government’s key agenda, if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is voted to power.
Addressing a huge gathering in Krishnanagar, the Prime Minister lambasted the Trinamool Congress and INDIA bloc for stymeing the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Parliament, asserting that those who conspired against women’s rights will see their fate in ruins, in the ongoing state elections.
Stating that a few days ago he gave six guarantees to people of West Bengal, today he was extending 10 guarantees to the sisters of state which he said, will be implemented on ground – to safeguard the women and equip them with sustainable livelihood means.
“Those who commit atrocities against women and daughters in Bengal will be punished. Every block will have a Mahila Thana. Women will be recruited into the police force on a large scale. Within a year, Rs 36,000 will be transferred to women’s accounts,” he said, eliciting loud applause from the crowd.
He also said: “The BJP government in Bengal will provide Rs50,000 assistance for girls’ graduation, expectant mothers will receive financial support of Rs 21,000 and for better nutrition of children, an additional Rs 36,000 will be provided.
“Under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the future of daughters will be secured. For self-employment, loans of up to Rs 20 lakh will be provided under the Mudra scheme. Lakhs of women will be supported to become “Lakhpati Didis”. Under Ayushman Yojana, free treatment up to Rs5 lakh will be available. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, houses for poor families in Bengal will be registered in the name of women,” Prime Minister Modi added.
Supporters of Trinamool Congress party attend a campaign meeting of party chief Mamata Banerjee ahead of elections in Kolkata on Wednesday.
AP
The Prime Minister also attacked the Mamata Banerjee government over its ‘poor track record’ in dealing with illegal infiltrators and vowed to protect the genuine refugees.
He said that those having taken refuge in West Bengal on grounds of religious persecution will be granted protection and the work of granting citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be accelerated.
Be vigilant over false voting, Mamata tells people
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would use central forces to indulge in false voting during the ongoing Assembly elections and urged them not to become a part of such political activities.
Addressing an election rally at Haripal in Hooghly district on Wednesday, Banerjee asked people to remain vigilant and alert on the day of polling and to ensure that their voting rights are exercised without any interference or intimidation.
“The central forces will vote in droves. The BJP will use them to indulge in false voting. I will tell them, do not do politics. We salute you. You protect the country. But the central forces are saying ‘BJP Zindabad’ now! How dare they do so much?” CM Banerjee alleged while addressing the gathering.
She further said, “The central forces will check you at the polling booth. If they touch women, you will take the legal route. No one will take up arms or resort to violence. You know what to do in such situations.” The Chief Minister also claimed that the BJP is running a minority government at the Centre and is at risk of falling at any time in the near future.
“We defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections a few days ago. The BJP government will fall within this year. This is a minority government. It is surviving at the mercy of some people,” she said while continuing her address.
Hajj arrangements
Mamata Banerjee also appealed to people belonging to minority communities to cast their votes before embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage.
“They have opened flight services for Hajj from April 27. It has been done very cleverly. There is an election here on April 29, and before that they have done this. I will request you not to go for Hajj without voting. First cast your votes and then go for Hajj. If you do not cast your votes, then they will drive you out through NRC. Do not waste your vote. I will make all arrangements for Hajj,” CM Banerjee said.
Polling percentage
The first phase of the two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held on Thursday. Polling will be conducted in as many as 152 Assembly constituencies across several districts amid tight and elaborate security arrangements.
The polling percentage in the first six hours of the first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls on Thursday till 1pm was significantly high at 62.18 per cent.
As per records available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the polling percentages in the first six hours till 1pm in all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal in 2024 were much lower.
The respective poll percentages till 1pm in the seven phases of polls in 2024 in West Bengal were 51 per cent in the first phase, 47.3 per cent in the second phase, 49.3 per cent in the third phase, 51.9 per cent in the fourth phase, 48.4 per cent in the fifth phase, 54.8 per cent in the sixth phase, and 45.1 per cent in the seventh phase.
Indo-Asian News Service
