COVID Spread: Elections To 4 Municipal Corporations Postponed In West Bengal

Kolkata: In view of rapid spread of COVID cases in the state, the West Bengal State Election Commission on Saturday postponed elections to four municipal corporations

According to a notification issued by the Commission, the elections to Siliguri, Chandannagar, Bidhannagar and Asansol municipal corporations will be held on February 12 instead of January 22.

The state government had earlier written to the SEC, giving its consent to reschedule the election dates, due to the present pandemic situation.

However, there will be no changes in the campaigning schedule. “There will be no changes in the campaigning schedule. It will end 72 hours before the polling date and leaders and political parties must strictly follow the COVID-19 safety protocols,” Zee News quoted an SEC official as saying.

On date for counting of votes, he said it has not been decided yet, but it may be held on February 15.

The decision to postpone the polling dates was taken to honour the request of the Calcutta High Court which had asked the commission to explore the possibility of postponing the civic polls by four to six weeks.