The Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, which will span seven phases from April 9 to June 1. This duration aligns with the polling schedules of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, whereas other Bharatiya states will undergo elections in fewer phases. Additionally, bypolls for two assembly seats in Bengal will coincide with the Lok Sabha polls.
West Bengal, with 42 Lok Sabha seats, holds significant political importance. In the previous 2019 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made substantial gains by winning 18 seats, posing a formidable challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the polling dates for West Bengal as follows: April 19 (Phase 1), April 26 (Phase 2), May 7 (Phase 3), May 13 (Phase 4), May 20 (Phase 5), May 25 (Phase 6), and June 1 (Phase 7), with the counting scheduled for June 4.
The state witnessed campaigning initiation with political parties declaring their candidates. TMC, BJP, and Left parties have unveiled the names of their contenders for various constituencies. Notably, the TMC expressed its preference for conducting elections in one or two phases, citing voter convenience and turnout concerns, but the ECI proceeded with the seven-phase schedule.
The TMC, despite concerns over the multi-phase election, remains confident in its prospects. TMC leaders believe they can secure a significant number of seats, while the outcome in the remaining constituencies would be influenced by the strategies of other opposition parties, including CPI(M) and Congress, who are part of the INDIA coalition.
In response, the BJP welcomed the ECI’s decision, emphasizing the necessity of stringent measures for ensuring free and fair polling in Bengal, given the state’s history of electoral violence. The deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to the tune of over 900 companies underscores the seriousness of the security arrangements.
The polling schedule delineates constituencies for each phase: Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri in Phase 1; Darjeeling, Raiganj, and Balurghat in Phase 2; Malda North, Malda South, Jangipur, and Murshidabad in Phase 3; Berhampore, Krishnanagar, and others in subsequent phases.
The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal hold immense significance for the political landscape of the state and the nation at large. With campaigning in full swing and parties gearing up for a fiercely contested electoral battle, all eyes are set on the polling days to determine the future trajectory of governance in the region.
Comments