All major political parties in Bengal are set to ask the state election commission to defer civic polls in the state in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Trinamul and the BJP will appeal to the election commission to put on hold the poll process during an all-party meeting called by the panel here on Monday. Both the parties said on Sunday that given the global lockdown in the face of the pandemic, it would not be prudent to go ahead with the election process in the state.
“We are all aware of the prevailing threat of COVID-19 which has also been declared a pandemic by WHO. The West Bengal state government has issued advisories and implemented several measures with regard to precautions citizens need to take to ensure their safety,” Trinamul said in a statement issued on Sunday evening.
“In the wake of such a crisis, we will appeal to the state election commission of West Bengal to defer the upcoming municipal/corporation elections. In fighting this pandemic, political parties must stand shoulder to shoulder with the people we represent,” it added.
“Elections come and go. Politics must take a backseat when society is faced with such a threat. Political parties must come together and join hands to ensure social well-being. Let us revisit the idea of India. Let’s come together and fight this. Together!”
The Mamata Banerjee government was keen on conducting the polls between April 12 and 26, but — sources said — in view of the current situation, the elections were unlikely to be held even in May. “There is no wisdom in pushing for the polls amid this global health scare,” a senior leader of Trinamul said.
The state BJP had already said it would ask the commission to take a pro-people decision in view of the pandemic. “Our national president J.P. Nadda has issued instructions to suspend all other activities and conduct public awareness programmes on the novel coronavirus,” a BJP state functionary said on Sunday.
The Left Front said it wouldn’t oppose any “pro-people” decision on the postponement of the elections to 100-odd civic bodies.
Meeting today
The chief minister will hold an urgent meeting at Nabanna at 3pm on Monday to take stock of the coronavirus situation.
Chief secretary Rajiva Sinha, home secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, departmental secretaries and officials of Calcutta and Howrah municipal corporations and other towns would attend the meeting. Mamata is in charge of the health department.
Sources said central government officials handling ports, airports and railways had also been asked to take part in the meeting. All district administrations would attend the session through videoconference. “Further orders on combating the coronavirus would be issued at the meeting. Some tough decisions might be taken,” said a source.
CM trip put off
The visit of chief minister Mamata Banerjee to Birbhum has been put off as the government wants to avoid mass gatherings, said sources.
Mamata was scheduled to visit the district for three days from March 18 and chair an administrative review meeting in Bolpur’s Gitanjali auditorium the following day.
Senior officials said the administration was ready with measures such as sanitising the entire auditorium and arranging for masks. The chief minister’s office said it was not worth the risk at a time the entire world is in lockdown mode.
Health department officials said they were also prepared to set up a health check-up camp at the venue of Mamata’s meeting. Abhijit Sinha, Trinamul’s Birbhum district vice-president, said the new date of Mamata’s visit would be announced later.
