Indifferent to the second wave of Covid19, Modi has been addressing public rallies in West Bengal for the eight-phase assembly election in the state. Calls of cancelling the rallies or clubbing of the remaining phases have not been responded to directly by the election commission of India which has just cut short the time of campaigning.

Also Read: Will Election commission club remaining phases of Bengal election as Covid19 resurges

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi decided to suspend all his public rallies scheduled for West Bengal polls amid an alarming rise in cases of Covid-19.

Mr. Gandhi also advised all other politicians to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies.

In this regard, he stated on Twitter, “In view of the Covid situation, I am suspending all my public rallies in West Bengal. I would advise all political leaders to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies under the current circumstances.”

Indian National Congress has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for holding political rallies amid the rise in coronavirus cases in the country.

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

Recently, Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has accused the prime minister of shocking callousness for holding big political rallies in poll-bound West Bengal amid the rise in COVID-19 cases.

He said that the prime minister should be at his job, sitting at his desk and coordinating with chief ministers in handling the COVID pandemic.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

A massive surge in coronavirus cases has been witnessed in India. As per data on Covid19 daily infections, a record single-day rise of 2,61,500 coronavirus infections has taken the country’s total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,47,88,109. The active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

After the fifth-phase of West Bengal election which saw 78.36% voter turnout, the sixth phase for 43 seats will be held on April 22, seventh phase on April 26 for 36 seats, and the last and eighth phase would be on April 29 for 35 seats. The results of the election will be declared after vote counting on May 02.