The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday rejected the Trinamool Congress’ suggestion to merge the remaining three phases of voting in West Bengal citing legal and resource constraints.
TMC leader Derek O’Brien had written a letter to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Aariz Aftab on Tuesday, urging him to consider the party’s request amid the steep hike in Covid-19 cases.
“Two equally important issues are at stake: the right to life and public health and the right to hold elections,” TMC’s letter to the CEO stated. The EC has to make a choice, the letter read.
It urged the poll body to take necessary steps and said that measures taken previously, such as reducing the campaigning period, were only ‘cosmetic’.
The Commission, in its response, told O’Brien that changing the schedule of elections planned “much in advance” and involving a “complex interplay of a variety of factors” is not feasible.
Surjitt Sahani
