All arrangements put in place for tomorrow’s assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal
New Delhi, April 05
In the poll-bound states of Assam and West Bengal, all the necessary peparations have been made for the third phase polling of assembly elections tomorrow. Polling begins tomorrow morning at 7.00 a.m. Polling for the single-phase elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry along with the Lok Sabha by-polls for Kanniyakumari seat in Tamil Nadu and Malappuram seat in Kerala will also be held simultaneously.
The Election Commission has decided to use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) along with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at every Polling Station, with a view to enhance the transparency and credibility of the election process, as VVPAT allows the voter to verify his/her vote. The arrangements have already been made to ensure availability of an adequate number of EVMs and VVPATs for the smooth conduct of elections.
In view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the Election Commission has decided to allow maximum 1,000 electors in a polling station instead of earlier stipulation of 1,500 electors. Option of postal ballot facility has been extended to the electors who are COVID- 19 positive or suspect as certified by competent authority and are in home or institutional quarantine along with those marked as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and above the age of 80 years. It will be ensured that every polling station is equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) like drinking water, waiting shed, toilet with water facility, adequate arrangements for lighting, ramp of appropriate gradient for the Persons with Disabilities.
The special facilities will include mandatory sanitization of polling stations, thermal checking of voters at entry points either by polling staff or paramedical staff or an Asha worker. If temperature is above the set norms of the Health Ministry, then the elector will be provided with a token and asked to come for voting at the last hour of poll. At the last hour of poll, such electors will be facilitated for voting, strictly following COVID-19 related preventive measures.
In Assam, 337 candidates including 25 women are in fray for the 40 assembly constituencies spread over 12 districts going to polls on Tuesday during the third and final phase. Over 79.19 lakh voters including 39.07 lakh women and 139 third gender persons will decide the fate of these candidates. Total 11,401 polling stations have been set up for this purpose. There are three main alliances including the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance with partners Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and Mahajot or Grand Alliance led by the Congress. It includes All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) and the Left parties while yet another conglomerate of Asom Jatiya Party (AJP) and Raijor Dal is also there. Congress has fielded 21 candidates, AJP has 20, BJP – 18, AGP-12, AIDUF -11 and BPF has seven candidates while independents and others are also trying their luck.
The prominent contestants during the third and final phase include BJP Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari, Siddhartha Bhattacharya from Gauhati East, Chandra Mohan Patowary from Dharampaur along with BJP State President Ranjeet Kumar and Dass Assam Jatiya Parishad Working President Pabindra Deka both from Pathacharkuchi. AGP Minister Phani Bhushan Choudhury from Bongaigaon, BPF Ministers Pramila Rani Brahma from Kokrajhar East and Chandan Brahma from Sidli are also in the fray. Kokrajhar’s Lok Sabha MP Naba Kumar Sarania is fighting the polls from Barama as an Independent.
In West Bengal, 205 candidates including 13 women are vying for 31 seats in three districts during the third phase. The state is witnessing eight-phase elections. Over 78.52 lakh voters including 38.59 lakh women and 246 third gender persons will decide the fate of these candidates. Total 8,480 polling stations have been set up for this purpose. Bharatiya Janata Party and ruling AITC are contesting for all the 31 seats while Congress, Left parties and their alliance partner Indian Secular Front are fighting under the banner of Sanyukt Morcha. CPI (M) and BSP have fielded 13 candidates each, ISF has eight, Congress has seven, AIFB two and RSP one while there are 68 independents along with 32 others are also in the fray.
The prominent leaders contesting in this phase include three Ministers Dr. Nirmal Manjhi from Uluberia Uttar, Ashima Patra from Dhanekhali and Giyasuddin from Magrahat Paschim along with Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee contesting from Baruipur Paschim. Cine star Tanushree Chakroborty from Shyampur and Papia Adhikary from Uluberia Dakshin are also trying their luck while Journalist turned politician Swapan Dasgupta is in the fray from Tarakeswar seat.
In Kerala, 957 candidates including 123 women and one third gender person are vying for the 140 Assembly seats spread over 14 districts during the single phase. Over 2.74 crore voters including 1.41 crore women and 290 Third Gender persons will decide the fate of these candidates. Total 40,771 Polling Stations have been set up for this purpose. Apart from the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front and Congress-led United Democratic Front, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is trying to make a big headway in the state this time. Among the major parties, CPI (M) has fielded 86 and CPI has 25 candidates while Congress has 93 and its alliance partner Indian Union Muslim League has 27 candidates in the fray. BJP has fielded 113 candidates along with 21 candidates from alliance partner Bharath Dharma Jana Sena.
The prominent candidates in the state include the incumbent Chief Minister and CPI (M) candidate P. Vijayan from Dharmadom seat, State Minister K.K. Shylaja from Mattannur, Metro Man and BJP candidate E. Sreedharan from Palakkad and State Unit President K. Surendran contesting from both Manjeswaram and Konni. Former CM Oommen Chandy from Puthupally, Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala from Haripad and Indian Union Muslim League National General Secretary and former MP P.K. Kunhalikutty is also in the fray from Vengara.
In Tamil Nadu, total 3,998 candidates including 411 women and two third gender persons are vying for the 234 assembly seats spread over 37 districts during the single phase. Over 6.28 crore voters including 3.19 crore women and 7,192 third gender persons will decide the fate of these candidates. Total 88,936 polling stations have been set up for this purpose.
The state is likely to witness multi-cornered contests this time. There are two major alliances: the ruling AIADMK-BJP alliance and the coalition of the DMK and Congress. In addition, actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and the newly-forged alliance between TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are also trying to make big inroads into the state politics. AIADMK has fielded 179 and DMK has 173 candidates while AMMK has 161, MNM-145, BSP-65, Puthiya Tamilagam and DMDK-60 each, Congress-25, PMK-23 and the BJP has 20 candidates in the fray.
The prominent contestants include Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator Edapadi Palanisamy from Edappadi seat, another Coordinator O. Paneerselvam from Bodinayanur, DMK President M.K. Stalin from Kolathur, Party General Secretary Durai Murugan from Katpadi, PMK President G.K. Mani, BJP State President L. Murugan from Dharapuram, former Secretary H. Raja from Karaikudi and Women’s Wing President Vanathi Srinivasan who is facing Actor and MNM Founder Kamalahasan from Coimbatore South. AMMK Founder TTV Dhinakaran from Kovilpatti, DMDK Treasurer Premlatha Vijaykumar from Viruddhachalam along with actress and BJP candidate Khusboo from Thousand Lights, Chennai are also in the fray.
Besides, the Lok Sabha by-polls will be conducted simultaneously for Kanniyakumari seat in Tamil Nadu where there will be 12 candidates in the fray and also for Malappuram seat in Kerala where six candidates will be taking part in the electoral battle.
In the Union Territory of Puducherry, 324 candidates including 35 women are vying for 30 seats in four districts during the single phase. Over 10.04 lakh voters including 5.31 lakh women and 116 Third Gender persons will decide the fate of these candidates. Total 1,559 Polling Stations have been set up for this purpose. Naam Tamilar Katchi has fielded 28 candidates and DMDK has 26, AMMK-25, MNM-22, DMK-13 Congress-14 while NR Congress has given tickets to 16, BSP-11 and BJP has put up nine candidates in the fray.
The main contestants include former Chief Minister and NR Congress President N. Rangasamy from Thattanchavady seat, former Ministers R. Kamalakannan from Thirunallar and N. Candassamy from Embalam along with former Chief Ministerial candidate of Congress and now a BJP candidate Namachivayam from Mannadipet. BJP Unit President Swaminathan is contesting from Lawspet while DMK Puducherry President R. Siva is participating from Villianur.
During the fourth and fifth phase of assembly elections in West Bengal, the election campaign is gaining momentum with the prominent leaders of different political parties engaging in whirlwind tours for canvassing in favour of their candidates. During this phase, 373 candidates will be vying for 44 assembly seats that will go to polls on 10th of April.
The final scenario of electoral contests in the fifth phase became clear on Saturday after withdrawal of candidature. The picture also became clear for the by-elections of two Lok Sabha seats including Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and Belgaum in Karnataka along with 14 Assembly Constituencies in eleven states. The ACs going in for the by-polls include three in Rajasthan, two in Karnataka and one each in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Telangana and Uttarakhand. In all, 45 ACs will go to polls in the fifth phase on 17th of April.
Meanwhile, the scrutiny of nominations for the sixth phase of elections in West Bengal was undertaken today. The last date of withdrawal of candidature will be 7th of April and 43 assembly constituencies will go to polls in this phase on 22nd of April.
The nomination process for the seventh as well as the eighth and final phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal, which is presently on, will continue till 7th of April and the scrutiny will be undertaken on 8th of April. The last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 12th of April. In all, 36 assembly constituencies will go to polls in the seventh phase on 26th of April while the remaining 35 assembly constituencies will go to polls in the eighth phase on 29th of April. The counting of votes will be taken up together on 2nd of May.