Aariz Aftab, the chief electoral officer of West Bengal has called for an all-party meeting on April 16.This decision came after Calcutta high court ordered the CEO and other officials to ensure strict implementation of the Covid19 protocols during the campaign for the upcoming phases of the Bengal election. The concern for the coronavirus crisis is real, given the spread of the second wave in India. Apart from that, West Bengal election 2021 has shown fare share of violence between the party-workers of TMC and BJP. Both of these necessitate the all-party meeting.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

For this meeting, all of the parties have been asked to send one representative for the discussion. Aariz Aftab said that State additional director general of police (law and order) Jag Mohan and state health secretary N S Nigam will also be present in the meeting.

A division bench presided by Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan upon hearing two PILs in this regard, ordered all officials at district levels to ensure that the guidelines laid down by the ECI and CEO are strictly implemented.

Also See: West Bengal 2021: Battleground for BJP and TMC

On Wednesday, a delegation of TMC MPs, stepping up the party’s criticism of the Election Commission of India, met its officials. The delegation submitted a memorandum alleging shortcomings of the apex poll body during the assembly polls in West Bengal.

Four out of eight phases of West Bengal Assembly elections are over. Voters have decided the fate of candidates in 135 of 294 seats. The remaining 159 seats will go to the polls between April 17 and 29.

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

The fifth phase of Bengal election, to be held this Saturday, has the maximum number of seats going to the polls. This is a crucial phase of the Bengal Assembly election 2021.

Forty-five (45) assembly constituencies that are going to vote in the next phase are the ones where BJP collectively had more votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha election than the TMC. BJP had got nearly 45 percent votes compared to the TMC’s 41.5 percent. But, in terms of seats, the TMC led with 23 seats and the BJP was at 22.

Speaking minutes after the end of the 24 hour ban on campaigning imposed on her by ECI, Mamata Banerjee asked the people to vote in a united manner, and pointed out that she was not being allowed to campaign while BJP leaders are free to do so.