#Kailash Vijayvargiya nrc

[mrdevsu]

कैलाश विजयवर्गीय बोले- बंगाल में NRC लागू करने की कोई योजना नहीं, CAA लागू किया जाएगा

कैलाश विजयवर्गीय बोले- बंगाल में NRC लागू करने की कोई योजना नहीं, CAA लागू किया जाएगा

पश्चिम बंगाल विधानसभा चुनाव 2021: बीजेपी के राष्ट्रीय महासचिव कैलाश विजयवर्गीय ने विपक्ष के इस दावे को रविवार को खारिज कर दिया कि अगर बीजेपी बंगाल में सत्ता में आयी तो एनआरसी का लागू होगा जिससे लोगों की नागरिकता के अधिकार छीन जाएंगे। उन्होंने जोर देकर कहा कि ऐसी कोई योजना नहीं है। हालांकि, उन्होंने यह जरूर कहा कि पार्टी का अंतर नागरिकता संशोधन कानून (सीएए) लागू करने और पड़ोसी देश में धार्मिक…

[everythingshouldbereality]

No plans to conduct NRC exercise in Bengal, CAA to be implemented: Vijayvargiya

No plans to conduct NRC exercise in Bengal, CAA to be implemented: Vijayvargiya

Image Source : PTI No plans to conduct NRC exercise in Bengal, CAA to be implemented: Vijayvargiya Countering opposition claims that the BJP, if voted to power in Bengal, will update the National Register of Citizens (NRC), thereby “taking away the citizenship rights of people”, Kailash Vijayvargiya, the saffron camp’s national general secretary, on Sunday reaffirmed that no such plan is on the…

[untolden]

Kailash Vijayvargiya on BJP’s Post-win Plans

Kailash Vijayvargiya on BJP’s Post-win Plans

Kolkata: The ruling Trinamool Congress has on several occasions alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party will snatch the citizenship rights of the people of West Bengal if it comes to power in the state. However, BJP general secretary, Kailash Vijayvargiya, denied the TMC’s claims, saying that National Register for Citizens (NCR) won’t be implemented in West Bengal. The BJP’s Central observer for…

[shawtutorial]

CAA Will Be Implemented In Bengal Soon: BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya

CAA Will Be Implemented In Bengal Soon: BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya

<!-- -->

Kailash Vijayvargiya didn’t say anything on the contentious National Register of Citizens (File)

Kolkata: The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented in West Bengal soon, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya Saturday said. He did not say anything on the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Kailash Vijayvargiya was talking to reporters at…

[newsboy360]

CAA Will Be Implemented In Bengal Soon: BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya

CAA Will Be Implemented In Bengal Soon: BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya

Kailash Vijayvargiya didn’t say anything on the contentious National Register of Citizens (File) Kolkata: The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented in West Bengal soon, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya Saturday said. He did not say anything on the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC). Kailash Vijayvargiya was talking to reporters at Thakurnagar in…

[bbbnews]

CAA Will Be Implemented In Bengal Soon: BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya

CAA Will Be Implemented In Bengal Soon: BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya

<!-- -->

Kailash Vijayvargiya didn’t say anything on the contentious National Register of Citizens (File)

Kolkata:

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented in West Bengal soon, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya Saturday said. He did not say anything on the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Kailash Vijayvargiya was talking to reporters at…

[wowhealthfitness20]

Citizenship Act Implementation to be Prioritised Before Bengal Assembly Polls: Vijayvargiya File photo of BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. Asserting that free and fair polls were not possible without the President's Rule in Bengal, Vijayvargiya said the BJP, however, is unlikely to raise the matter during Union Minister Amit Shah's visit from November 5.

[bhaskarhindinews]

Poha: कैलाश ��िजयवर्गीय का अजीब बयान, कहा- पोहा खाने का तरीका देख बांग्लादेशियों को पहचाना

देशभर में नागरिकता संशोधन कानून (CAA) के खिलाफ विरोध प्रदर्शन चल रहा है। इस बीच भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय महासचिव कैलाश विजयवर्गीय ने एक बड़ा अजीब बयान दिया है। उन्होंने कहा कि मेरे घर पर काम कर रहे मजदूरों के पोहा खाने के स्टाइल से मैं समझ गया कि वह बांग्लादेशी हैं।

[popularnews]

No Plans For NRC Exercise In Bengal, Citizenship Amendment Act To Be Implemented: BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya

[digitalfime]

No plans to conduct NRC exercise in Bengal, CAA to be implemented: Vijayvargiya

No plans to conduct NRC exercise in Bengal, CAA to be implemented: Vijayvargiya

Countering opposition claims that the BJP, if voted to power in Bengal, will update the National Register of Citizens (), thereby “taking away the citizenship rights of people”, Kailash Vijayvargiya, the saffron camp’s national general secretary, on Sunday reaffirmed that no such plan is on the radar. He, however, stated that the party intends to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and…

[ajabhishekvideos]

CAA Will Be Implemented In Bengal Soon: BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya

CAA Will Be Implemented In Bengal Soon: BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya

<!-- -->

Kailash Vijayvargiya didn’t say anything on the contentious National Register of Citizens (File)

Kolkata:

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented in West Bengal soon, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya Saturday said. He did not say anything on the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Kailash Vijayvargiya was talking to reporters at…

[digimakacademy]

Saw workers eating poha not roti… suspicious… they were Bangladeshis: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya

Saw workers eating poha not roti… suspicious… they were Bangladeshis: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya

[ad_1]

Written by Milind Ghatwai , Liz Mathew | Bhopal, New Delhi | Updated: January 25, 2020 4:49:09 am

Vijayvargiya, the BJP general secretary in charge of West Bengal, has been vocal in the party’s high-decibel campaign on the CAA and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC). (File photo)

[cladust]

BJP leader and #India n MP #KailashVijayvargiya identifies construction workers at his house as illegal #bangladeshi immigrants because they ate : Chire (Flattened Rice) on lunch brake. This is a #racist insult to Us , all Bengalis who are valid citizens of India by birth!! " Chire (Flattened Rice) , Muri and Khoi ( Parched Rice ) Rice " are few of our main and favorite foods. It's a real sham , that a right-winger person like him who knows nothing about #bengali culture does racist hateful comments like these and gets to take part in bengali politics. See , people? This is what's gonna happen to you when #CAA_NRC_NPR becomes effective, They are going to take away citizenship from valid citizens because they are rice eaters. Well, you disagree with them ? let's call you rice eater mark you as illegal bangladeshi and take away your citizenship, This is gonna be the future with CAA NRC NPR.Listen Mr. Kailash Vijayvargiya , we don't eat roti ( bread ) like you , Bhat ( rice ) is our lifeline. We are Mache-Bhate-Bangali and we have existence as Bengalis inside India.Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was also bengali and ate Chire , Muri and Khoi as food . 🤔 #WestBengal https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/caa-bjp-leader-kailash-vijayvargiya-says-identified-bangladeshi-workers-with-their-eating-habit-2168807

[bigyack-com]

Bengal Guv slams govt after Jadavpur University defers convocation citing unrest - india news

Students from four universities in Kolkata took to the streets in thousands and condemned the new citizenship law outside the state headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday evening, while Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar slammed the government after Jadavpur University (JU) informed him that the special convocation he was to address on December 24 had been deferred. Students from Jadavpur University, Calcutta University, Presidency University and Aliah University did not carry any political flag but large represented Left and far-Left unions. Dhankhar, who is chancellor of JU and other state universities by default, was supposed to confer D.Litt and D.Sc on some eminent people. JU’s decision upset Dhankhar, whose powers as chancellor have been drastically curtailed by the state government following acrimony over a range of issues.The JU executive council held a meeting in the afternoon and deferred the special convocation, saying students have threatened to boycott the programme and stage agitations if the governor attended it. In its resolution, the council cited media reports as its source of information and said it wanted to avoid an untoward situation. The council decided that only students will be given their degrees. “I am pained, disturbed and worried by the brick by brick destruction of the education scenario in the state. The DNA of education is being poisoned,” Dhankhar said at a hurriedly-called media conference at Raj Bhawan in the evening. “The government is unmindful of the incalculable damage it may pose to the current generation of students and our future generation,” he added. Dhankhar raised several other issues and said he did not get any response from chief minister Mamata Banerjee despite queries. “Perhaps she is more on the street than her seat….My patience will run out. I am obliged to be very patient but only to that extent that a spineless weakness is not indicated,” said Dhankhar.“On December 12, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology’s annual convocation was cancelled. On December 17, the governing body meeting at Presidency University was postponed. Now the JU convocation, which is traditionally held on December 24, has been cancelled. This trend indicates massive politicization and fear in the temples of education of the present government,” said Dhankhar.“I am reacting after the fifth cancellation. Why are communications from the vice chancellor to the chancellor being routed through the government? Why is there an emergency like situation?” he asked.Education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, “Students have taken a stand that there will be no National Register of Citizens (NRC) and no Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Centre has united the students. The governor acts like the BJP’s spokesperson. This has made the students angry.” “The governor has all the democratic rights to attend the convocation and we too are within our democratic rights to stage protests and show him black flags. Students have the right to refuse accepting certificates from him. He has been speaking like a BJP spokesperson and never condemned the vandalism by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on our campus,” Said Debraj Debnath, a Students’ Federation of India leader and general secretary of JU’s arts faculty students union. Leaders of engineering faculty students union echoed similar sentiments. Large parts of central Kolkata came to a standstill in the evening when the students took part in a mammoth road show. They stopped outside the BJP state headquarters and raised slogans before proceeding further north. BJP supporters, armed with sticks, also raised slogans in favour of CAA.There was a huge police contingent around the BJP office as the government anticipated trouble. Police blocked one flank of Central Avenue and set up a screen on the concrete road divider so that the agitators and BJP workers could not see each other. Some students tried to cross over to the other side but were stopped. There was no violence or arrest. The agitators carried posters and effigies. Some even sang songs and raised their signature ‘halla bol’ slogan. After the procession passed, a section of students returned to stage a demonstration at the BJP office. They were stopped again. “They have not even read the CAA. There is nothing objectionable in it. TMC, Left and Congress are misguiding people,” said BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who was present at the BJP office. The mood was set in the morning when Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said, “They (students) should come with stretchers. If they dare to reach our office, they won’t be able to walk back.”“Those who damage country’s property would be shot. Be it Uttar Pradesh, Assam or anywhere in the country. The TMC government will have to compensate the railways for the arson. Those who damaged railway property have been caught on camera. Didimoni (Mamata Banerjee) will not be able to save them in court,” Ghosh said.In the afternoon some Youth Congress supporters staged a demonstration outside Raj Bhavan demanding scrapping of CAA and NRC. BJP also took out two processions in the city in support of CAA. Read the full article

[eagle-eyez]

12:20 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

36.09% voter turnout till 12 pm

According to the Election Commission's data, 36.09 percent voter turnout recorded till 12 pm in the first phase of polling in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

12:07 (IST)

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

'People know CAA, NRC won't affect them,' says Sarbananda Sonowal

Sarbananda Sonowal was quoted as saying by ANI, "Congress and other parties are only seen in the media but BJP and its allies are the ones on the ground. People of Assam now know that CAA-NRC will not affect them. My aim is to make the BJP government in the state again."

11:26 (IST)

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Cast vote against divisive forces, says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi urged voters on Saturday to cast their ballots against "divisive forces" to strengthen democracy as polling began for the first phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam.

लोकतंत्र मज़बूत करने के लिए बाँटने वाली ताक़तों के विरुद्ध अपना वोट ज़रूर डालें। जय हिंद!

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2021

11:17 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Voters being influenced, stopped from voting, says Suvendu Adhikari's brother

Soumendu Adhikari, BJP leader and brother of Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday told ANI that voters are being influenced and stopped from voting at booth number 149. He also said that EVM malfunctioning is being witnessed at some locations, adding that the Election Commission is looking into it.

11:08 (IST)

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Sarbananda Sonowal, Debrata Saikia among key candidates in first phase

Among the key candidates in the first phase of polling are Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Speaker Hitendranath Goswami and Debrata Saikia, the leader of opposition in the state. A total of 264 candidates, including 23 women, are in the fray in the first phase.

11:03 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP delegation to meet top Bengal poll official at 2 pm

A Bharatiya Janata Party delegation led by the party's Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya will meet the Chief Electoral Officer in the state at 2 pm, News18 reported.

10:56 (IST)

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

9.47 turnout recorded in first two hours

An estimated 9.47 percent of the total 81.09 lakh electors exercised their franchise till 9 am in 47 constituencies of Assam where polling is underway with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in the first phase of elections on Saturday.

While the polling so far has been peaceful, some complaints of EVM glitches were lodged, an Election Commission official said.

Long queues were seen outside polling booths with voters and election officials adhering to COVID-19 protocols.

First voters in many polling stations were greeted with saplings.

PTI

10:42 (IST)

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Vote for progress, golden future of Assam, says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

  As polling began for the first phase of assembly elections in Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday urged the people to vote for progress and golden future of the state.

The Congress-led 'Mahajot' alliance is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in Assam which is voting in three phases starting on Saturday. The counting of votes will be on 2 May.

"Today, the first phase of polling is being held in Assam. I appeal to the people of Assam, especially the youth and my sisters, to go to the polling booths today and vote in large numbers," Priyanka Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi.

"Vote for progress and golden future of Assam," said the Congress general secretary, who has campaigned in the state.

PTI

10:29 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Polling largely peaceful in early hours

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from some areas that are voting in the first phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal on Saturday, even as the overall poll situation was peaceful with 14.28 per cent turnout recorded till 9 am, officials said.

Elections are being held in 30 seats, most of which are in the once-Naxal-affected Jungle Mahal region, across five districts amid tight security, they said.

A man, in his mid-30s, was found dead in Keshiary's Begumpur area in the Paschim Medinipur district in the morning, police said.

He has been identified as Mangal Soren, they said, adding that his body was found outside his home.

The BJP claimed that Soren was their supporter and was allegedly killed by TMC 'goons', a charge rubbished by the ruling party.

PTI

10:09 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Voter turnout till 9. 50 am in West Bengal

1) Bankura: 18.36% 2) Jhargram: 16.17% 3) Paschim Medinipur: 16.75% 4) Purba Medinipur: 13.70% 5) Purulia: 13.97%

09:53 (IST)

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

EVM snags reported from Mariani, Lahoal

EVM snags have been reported at three voting centres of Mariani in Assam, News18 reported.. Meanwhile, at Ujoni Hatimora polling station in Lahoal Assembly Constituency, voting is yet to start due to technical glitch in EVM. 

09:31 (IST)

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Assam records 8.84% turnout, Bengal sees 7.72% voting percentage till 9 am

According to the Election Commission's data, Assam and West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 8.84 percent and 7.72 percent respectively till 9 am.

09:22 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

'Bengal's daughter will defeat Bengal's traitor': Derek O'Brien

🏁May2. Trinamool will win Bengal. 🏁 1️⃣Bengal's Daughter will defeat Bengal's Traitor in his 'backyard' in Nandigram. 2️⃣Mo-Sha and members of the Tourist Gang will continue trying to destroy every institution 3️⃣Women in Bengal will continue to wear saris any way they want.

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) March 27, 2021

09:07 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP complains to EC about TMC candidate 'distributing cash' among voters

The BJP on Friday drew the attention of the Election Commission to a video in which a Trinamool Congress candidate is seen allegedly distributing cash among the electorate.

The BJP also made complaints about TMC workers "unleashing terror" in poll-bound districts in collusion with a section of the state police.

In a letter to the poll panel, the saffron party attached links of the video, released on Friday, which showed an ex-minister and a TMC candidate from Purulia purportedly distributing cash among the voters.

"It is a blatant violation of the model code of conduct that says all parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are corrupt practices and offences under the election law," the letter signed by senior state BJP leaders said.

PTI

09:00 (IST)

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Choose govt that upholds Constitution, Manmohan Singh urges Assam voters

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a video appeal to the people of Assam ahead of the first round of voting for state elections tomorrow, urged them to "vote wisely" and vote for a government that upholds the constitution and democracy.

Manmohan Singh, 88, was a Rajya Sabha member from Assam from 1991 to 2019, after which he was elected to the Upper House of Parliament from Rajasthan. "For many years Assam has been my second home," said the senior Congress leader.

"The people of Assam enabled me to serve our country as Finance Minister of India for five years and as Prime Minister for 10 years. Today I am speaking as one of you. Once again the time has come for you to cast your ballot... You must vote wisely," Dr Singh urged.

Under the leadership of late Shri Tarun Gogoi, Assam made a new beginning towards peace & development. However it is now facing a serious set-back, society is being divided on the basis of religion, culture & language, rights of people being denied.: Former PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh pic.twitter.com/fTAJCQazqD

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 26, 2021

08:47 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Tight security in Bengal

Elections in West Bengal are being held amid tight security with the Election Commission deploying around 730 companies of central forces, guarding 10,288 polling booths housed in 7,061 premises, officials told PTI.

08:36 (IST)

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP seeks to retain power in Assam; TMC looks to win third straight term in Bengal

The BJP is hoping to retain power in Assam and defeat the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. The TMC is looking to win a third straight term in Bengal.

Assam and Bengal will have three-phase and eight-phase elections, respectively. The counting of votes will be on May 2

08:21 (IST)

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

EVM glitches reported from Kharagpur

According to media reports, voting on Saturday was stopped in Kharagpur after EVM malfunctions were reported from polling booth 98 and 99. 

08:12 (IST)

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Modi urges people to vote in record numbers

Narendra Modi on Saturday urged people to cast votes in record numbers in the first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam.

"The first phase of elections begin in Assam. Urging those eligible to vote in record numbers. I particularly call upon my young friends to vote.

"Today, Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections begin. I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today to exercise their franchise in record numbers," he tweeted.

Today, Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections begin. I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today to exercise their franchise in record numbers.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2021

07:45 (IST)

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Polling begins in Assam

Voting began at 7 am on Saturday for 47 seats in the first phase of the assembly elections in Assam to decide the fate of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and a host of ministers and Opposition leaders, officials said.

Altogether 264 candidates, including 23 women, are in the fray in the first phase, they said.

A total of 300 companies of security forces have been deployed in the first phase, in which people are voting at 11,537 polling stations across 12 districts of Upper Assam and the Northern Bank of Brahmaputra.

Patrolling has been intensified and strict vigil is being kept in all the vulnerable areas, officials said.

PTI

07:42 (IST)

People queuing up to vote in Dibrugarh

Image credit: Simantik Dowerah/Firstpost

07:31 (IST)

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Here are identity proofs that you can carry to voting booths

One can carry any of these mentioned identity proofs while voting.

Voter ID card issued by Election Commission of India (ECI)

MNREGA Job Card

Bank/Post Office Passbooks with photograph

Driving License

PAN Card

Indian Passport

Pension document with photograph

Service Identity Cards with photograph issued by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies

07:25 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Polling begins for 30 seats in first phase of Bengal elections

Polling began at 7 am on Saturday for the 30 seats in the first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal amid tight security, officials said.

More than 73 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 191 candidates in these seats, most of which are located in the once-Naxal-affected Jungle Mahal region.

The elections are being held following COVID-19 guidelines in all nine seats in Purulia, four in Bankura, four in Jhargram and six in Paschim Medinipur, besides the seven seats in high-stakes Purba Medinipur -- the home turf of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

PTI

07:07 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly election 2021 LATEST Updates

EC vehicle set ablaze in Bengal's Purulia district

A vehicle hired for poll duty was set ablaze at Bandwan in Purulia district on Friday night, hours before the first phase of assembly elections get underway, official sources told PTI.

The vehicle was reportedly on its way back after dropping election officials at a polling station, when it was set on fire at Tulsidi village in the once-Maoist-affected 'Jangalmahal' belt of the state, they said.

According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle was stopped by a few persons who emerged out of the forests all of a sudden and allegedly threw a petrol-soaked material on it, before fleeing.

No one was injured in the incident, the sources said.

PTI

05:58 (IST)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Phase 1 of West Bengal Assembly election today

The West Bengal districts going to polls in Phase 1 on Saturday are Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, Paschim Midnapore Part 1 and Purba Midnapore Part 1. Overall there are 30 seats that will go to polls on 27 March. 

05:50 (IST)

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Bengal, Assam will go to polls in Phase 1 today

Politically volatile states of West Bengal and Assam will go to polls in the first phase of assembly elections on Saturday amid a resurgent COVID-19 crisis to decide the fate of a number of top politicians including Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates:: Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from some areas that are voting in the first phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal on Saturday, even as the overall poll situation was peaceful with 14.28 per cent turnout recorded till 9 am, officials said

Voting on Saturday was stopped in Kharagpur after EVM malfunctions were reported from polling booths 98 and 99, according to media reports.

Voting has now begun in both West Bengal and Assam.

Politically volatile states of West Bengal and Assam will go to polls in the first phase of assembly elections on Saturday amid a resurgent COVID-19 crisis to decide the fate of a number of top politicians including Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

The Assembly elections to the two states apart from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry are the first, after the state polls in Bihar, to be held during the pandemic. Polling will be held in 30 of the 294 constituencies of West Bengal and 47 of the 126 in Assam which together have 1.54 crore eligible voters who can exercise their franchise on Saturday.

The polling, mostly in the Jungalmahal area of West Bengal, where the BJP had managed to win most of the seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, will likely witness a straight contest between the saffron party and the ruling TMC.

A staggering 684 companies of central paramilitary forces, each having about 100 men and officers, have been deployed to guard 10,288 polling booths housed in 7,061 premises, officials said. Thousands of state police personnel will also be positioned at vulnerable places to thwart attempts at vitiating the elections.

West Bengal has been caught in the throes of violent political clashes between the TMC and BJP supporters which have claimed several lives on both sides. The first phase of poll in Assam will decide the fate of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Speaker Hitendranath Goswami, state Congress chief Ripun Borah and a host of ministers.

Most of these seats will likely witness triangular contest between the ruling BJP-AGP alliance, the Congress-led opposition grand alliance and the newly formed Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP).

West Bengal will have an eight-phase poll, while in Assam the exercise will be completed in three phases on 27 March, 1 and 6 April. Altogether 264 candidates, including 23 women, are in the fray.

Central forces will assist the state police in maintaining law and order during the polling, a senior police officer said without divulging their numbers. The official said there will be enough security personnel to cover all polling stations.

The ruling BJP is contesting 39 seats and its partner AGP 10. The two allies are engaged in friendly contest in Lakhimpur and Naharkatiya constituencies. The grand alliance is contesting all the seats, with the Congress party putting up candidates in 43, and the AIUDF, CPI(ML-L), RJD and Anchalik Gana Morcha (contesting as Independent) in one each.

The newly formed AJP is in the fray in 41 seats, while there are 78 Independents, including 19 candidates of he newly formed Raijor Dal who are also contesting as Independents. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is trying his luck from Majuli (ST) seat where he is locked in a direct contest with three-time former Congress MLA and former minister Rajib Lochan Pegu.

Speaker of the outgoing assembly Hitendranath Goswami is also locked in a direct contest with former Congress MLA Rana Goswami in Jorhat. Titabor, another high-profile seat that was held by former chief minister Tarun Gogoi of the Congress for four successive terms will likely see a direct contest between Bhaskar Jyoti Barua of the Congress and former MLA Hemanta Kalita. Gogoi, the tallest Congress leader in the state, died last year.

BJP Ministers Ranjit Dutta (Behali), Naba Kumar Doley (Dhakuakha), Jogen Mohan (Mahmora), Terash Gowala (Duliajan) and Sanjoy Kishan (Tinsukia) are all locked in triangular contest with Congress or its alliance partners and the AJP.

AGP Ministers Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta are in the electoral arena in Bokakhat and Kaliabor. Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia and state Congress president Ripun Borah are in the fray from Nazira and Gohpur respectively.

Activist and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, in jail for his alleged role in the violent anti-CAA protests, is contesting as an Independent from Sivasagar. AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi is contesting from Duliajan and Naharkatiya, and is pitted against Congress and BJP nominees in both the constituencies. The first phase of polling in West Bengal will see voting in all the nine seats in Purulia, four in Bankura, four in Jhargram and six in Paschim Medinipur, besides the seven seats in high-stakes Purba Medinipur - the home turf of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

The TMC and BJP have fielded candidates in 29 seats each, while the Left-Congress-ISF alliance has put up its nominee in all 30 seats. "Friendly fights" will take place in some constituencies.

In Jhargram, 11 paramilitary personnel will be deployed per booth, the highest for any election held in the state so far, officials said. In the other districts, an average of six paramilitary personnel will be deployed at every polling booth, officials said.

The Trinamool Congress is contesting 29 of the 30 seats, while supporting an Independent in the Joypur assembly segment in Purulia as the nomination of its official candidate Ujjwal Kumar was rejected by the EC due to a discrepancy. The BJP is also contesting 29 seats and backing ally AJSU Party of Jharkhand in Baghmundi.

Among the notable seats going to the polls in the first phase are Salboni, where the CPI(M) has fielded former minister Susanta Ghosh against BJP's Rajib Kundu and TMC's Srikanta Mahata. Ghosh, the MLA of Garbeta from 1987 to 2016, was in jail in the skeleton recovery case and is at present out on bail. Seven skeletons had been exhumed from behind his house in West Midnapore in 2011 arousing suspicion that Ghosh, a minister in the Jyoti Basu and Bhuddhadeb Bhattacharjee governments, was involved in the killing of seven Trinamool Congress activists in 2002.

The TMC has fielded actor June Malia, a known face on the Bengali silver screen, from Medinipur against BJP's Samit Kumar Dash. The Left-led alliance candidate is Tarun Kumar Ghosh of the CPI. In another significant contest, Santhali actor Birbaha Hansda is fighting on a TMC ticket from Jhargram against BJP's Sukhamay Satpathy and CPI(M)'s youth leader Madhuja Sen Roy.

The seven seats in Purba Medinipur -- Patashpur, Kanthi Uttar, Bhagabanpur, Khejuri, Kanthi Dakshin, Ramnagar and Egra -- will also be closely watched beause of a prestige fight between the influential Adhikari family, which has gone over to the BJP, and the TMC.

With inputs from  PTI

from Firstpost Politics Latest News https://ift.tt/3srWxfz