Cancel Cooch Behar Visit On Polling Day: Election Commission To Bengal Governor

Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has advised West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to call off his tour of Cooch Behar on April 18 and 19.

With voting in Cooch Behar scheduled on April 19 in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, ECI said the Governor’s proposed tour was violative of the Model Code of Conduct, reported PTI.

The mandatory 48-hour silence period ahead of voting has came into effect from Wednesday.

During this period, political parties, candidates and their campaigners are barred from any kind of campaigning.

Under Model Code of Conduct (MCC), no programme can be organised for the Governor in the related constituency, as proposed in his issued programme. ECI noted that the entire district administration and police force will be occupied in election management during April 18 and 19.

Ananda Bose has been a hands-on Governor, visiting Sandeshkhali and other violence-hit places to meet affected people. His decisions have often irked the Trinamool Congress-led state government, leading to difference between the Governor and the state.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases spanning a month-and-a-half. The final polling date is June 1, while counting of votes will take place on June 4.