#tmc against eci

[timespakistan]

Modi gov't directly responsible for world's worst COVID surge: Ex-Indian FM Since 15 April, India has been grappling with an exponential rise in COVID cases, deaths and shortage of basic facilities. In the wake of the unprecedented crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been facing blistering criticism for the government’s handling of the pandemic, both, internationally and within the country. India’s former foreign minister and ex-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha told Sputnik that despite warnings from various international agencies, the Narendra Modi government has failed miserably in handling the current COVID-19 situation. He also explained how the BJP used the Election Commission of India (ECI) as “its puppet” in the recently held state assembly elections. Sinha left the BJP after he reached ideological dissent within his party in 2018 and recently joined Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC). Sputnik: How do you assess the work of the Narendra Modi government in handling the current COVID-19 situation? Yashwant Sinha: The problem with the Narendra Modi government is that it starts celebrating and taking credit too early. In January, while addressing the World Economic Forum, Narendra Modi declared that India saved the world by controlling COVID in the country, and the party office bearers gathered on February 21 to congratulate PM Modi for the victory over the deadly virus. All this time, experts were warning that the second wave of COVID-19 is expected to hit the nation soon. All the warnings fell on deaf ears of the BJP government. This is the major reason why we are grappling with the worst worldwide COVID-19 surge and today, we are breaking all the records of daily infections and deaths. The entire health infrastructure has collapsed. A country like India cannot put together enough oxygen for the patients, and the whole situation is in a mess. Now, who will take the blame for this? The federal government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who failed to anticipate the danger despite regular warnings and failed to manage the situation, is directly responsible for this. Sputnik: How did the government handle the country’s economy during the pandemic? Yashwant Sinha: I really don’t think that the economy of the country is in a good shape. The Narendra Modi-led government is extremely good at manipulating the data; therefore, I don’t trust the statistics shown by the government anymore. A lot of people, holding important portfolios, had to resign because they didn’t agree with the government or its reports. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced relief packages of $278 billion (INR 20 lakh crore rupees) for the aftermath of the COVID crisis. Where is the money? Various reports said that the announcements by the government were eyewash and it had hardly spent 1-2 percent of the said amount. This money was specially allocated for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector and the MSME figures are released with three years lag — therefore, we don’t have a bigger picture. Despite the allocation of relief package for the MSME sector, it is in very bad shape. So, I don’t think that the economic situation has been handled in the desired way. Sputnik: How did the government tackle the crisis of migrant labourers and the unorganized sector? Yashwant Sinha: If things were managed in a better way, then migrants would have never walked back to their respective states during the second wave of the COVID-19. The small business units are shutting down and unemployment has become one of the major issues. The government failed to serve the interest of the country, particularly the unorganized sector and the worst part is that still, it is not thinking about it. Sputnik: Most of the states are complaining about non-availability of vaccine doses. How do you see the entire vaccination process in the country? Yashwant Sinha: Vaccination should be made free and compulsory, like primary education, as it is the only protection we have against the deadly virus. We have to vaccinate all our countrymen as soon as possible. Secondly, online registration should not be the only way to get registered for the vaccination. On the spot, registrations should also be started. Currently, I’m in my village in Jharkhand (It is one of the tribal states of India) and here people are not much aware about online registration. So, for such a populace, the government should mobilise the healthcare and frontline workers, who can go village to village and vaccinate the people on the spot. Apart from this, we must not laud ourselves as a world leader in the pharmacy sector and export the vaccine to other countries. First, we should ensure vaccination for our population and then we can look forward to supporting other countries.     Also, it is important that the cost of the vaccination should be taken care of by the government. I think there won’t be much of a problem with it as the Finance Minister had announced a $1.7 billion health package to fight against COVID-19 and a huge amount of money had been collected in the PM-CARES fund. However, I will still say that the government, so far, has performed miserably in managing this crisis. Sputnik: How was your experience of the West Bengal elections as this was the first time that the BJP had a magnanimous campaign in the state? Yashwant Sinha: I am really disappointed with the way the elections were conducted in West Bengal. The Election Commission of India didn’t act as an independent agency. It was working on the directions of the federal government. Knowing about the pandemic spread, the poll body shouldn’t have extended the polls in the state. A supporter of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wearing a face cutout of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends a public rally being addressed by him during the ongoing fourth phase of the West Bengal’s state legislative assembly elections, at Kawakhali on the outskirts of Siliguri on April 10, 2021. Breaking all the COVID protocols, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah organized huge rallies where people from various parts of the country were brought adding to the COVID-19 surge. Additionally, Narendra Modi behaved like a street urchin during the poll campaigns. He taunted Mamta Banerjee as ‘Didi, O Didi’ (Sister, Hey Sister) or Do May, Didi Gayi (2 May, Banerjee gone). Such language is not expected from the Prime Minister of a country. Modi-Shah duo has always tried to sideline their rivals, whether within the party or outside, similarly they realised that Mamata Banerjee would be a threat for them in 2024 so they only made plans for defeating her, though they couldn’t succeed, and didn’t focus on Pinarayi Vijayan (of Kerala), MK Stalin (of Tamil Nadu). Sputnik: You’ve been reiterating that the West Bengal election will shape up the 2024 Parliamentarian Election in India. How? Mr Sinha: At present, there is no opposition against the federal government, and nature doesn’t tolerate the vacuum for long. Similarly, the political vacuum has to be filled. By 2024, more ably and small leaders will emerge and challenge Narendra Modi. I don’t know who will be these leaders, but Mamata Banerjee is undoubtedly one of those faces. https://timespakistan.com/modi-govt-directly-responsible-for-worlds-worst-covid-surge-ex-indian-fm/19087/

[axis-news]

Widow of TMC candidate who died of Covid files complaint against top EC officials

Widow of TMC candidate who died of Covid files complaint against top EC officials

  Nandita Sinha, wife of decreased Trinamool Congress leader, Kajal Sinha, has held Deputy Election Commissioner, Sudip Jain, and other ECI officials responsible for the death of her husband. Nandita in a police complaint sought registration of a case of culpable homicide against Jain and other officials of the Election Commission. Kajal, who was the TMC’s Khardaha candidate, contracted Covid-19…

[trytechnicstimes]

WB Assembly Polls 2021 : BJP candidate Srabanti Chatterjee filed a case in ECI against TMC

WB Assembly Polls 2021 : BJP candidate Srabanti Chatterjee filed a case in ECI against TMC

Published by: Tiyasha Sarkar |    Posted: April 7, 2021 2:43 pm|    Updated: April 7, 2021 2:44 pm ধ্রুবজ্যোতি বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়: বেহালা পশ্চিম (Behala Paschim) কেন্দ্রের ক্লাবগুলোকে দুষ্কৃতী ডেরা বানিয়েছে তৃণমূল! নির্বাচন কমিশনে এই অভিযোগ জানিয়ে কটাক্ষের শিকার বিজেপি প্রার্থী শ্রাবন্তী চট্টোপাধ্যায়। রাজনৈতিকভাবে এই অভিযোগের বিরোধিতায় সরব বেহালার তৃণমূল নেতৃত্ব। একাধিক ক্লাবও শ্রাবন্তীর এই…

[newsmatters]

Poll rigging: What happened on Nandigram polling day, EC explains point-by-point

Poll rigging: What happened on Nandigram polling day, EC explains point-by-point

New Delhi: Election Commission of India (ECI) has sent a point-by-point response to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s letter alleging that there was a complete breakdown of law and order during the second phase of voting in Nandigram on April 1.  The TMC supremo went up against Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP from Nandigram in the second phase of the Bengal assembly polls. She had also…

[bbcbreakingnews]

EC team in West Bengal: BJP seeks central forces, Trinamool petitions against BSF

NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress and the BJP on Thursday petitioned the full bench of Election Commission of India trading charges against each other ahead of the assembly elections in the state. The Election Commission of India team, led by CEC Sunil Arora, is in West Bengal to review preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections. While the BJP sought deployment of central forces in the state at the earliest citing “sense of fear among people”, the ruling Trinamool lodged a complaint against the Border Security Force (BSF). The Trinamool accused the force of threatening people in border areas to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party, a charge strongly denied by the force. ‘Allegations against BSF are without any basis’ “BSF is a professional Border Guarding Force which has in the past, and also in the present, guarded our international borders with total sincerity and dedication. We have actively checked on illegal infiltration and smuggling and brought to the book criminals involved in such activities,” the BSF said in a statement. “The statements given by West Bengal ministers Partho Chatterjee and Firhad Hakim levelling allegations against BSF are without any basis and far from any truth. BSF stands firmly committed to its motto ‘Duty Unto Death’ at all times,” it said. ‘Trinamool petitions ECI against BSF’ Earlier today a delegation of Trinamool leaders met the full EC bench to raise the party’s concerns ahead of the assembly elections. “We have informed the CEC and other ECI officials that BSF is threatening voters in the border areas. We have received inputs that officers of the paramilitary force are visiting various villages and asking people to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party. This is a dangerous situation and the ECI must look into it,” TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee told reporters after meeting the ECI delegation. Chatterjee also alleged that the BSF personnel were telling the villagers that “none but us will remain in the border areas throughout the year to look after you”. BJP seeks deployment of central forces West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh urged the Election Commission of India to deploy central forces in the state at the earliest. He claimed that there is a ‘sense of fear’ among people ahead of elections. “Election Commission entire team is here to inspect arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections. As an opposition party, we have urged them to ensure an environment in which people can exercise their franchise in a neutral and peaceful environment. It is important the Central Forces are deployed here soon,” he said after the meeting. Ghosh said that there is an ‘environment of fear’ in Bengal during elections and claimed that violence was reported in all 42 parliamentary constituencies in the state during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He also suggested that Central Forces must be deployed inside polling booths and State police outside for free and fair polls. ‘Rohigya included in voter list’ The BJP also informed the ECI about the abnormal rise in the number of voters possibly due to the inclusion of infiltrators in the list. “We are certain that names of Rohingyas have been included in the voter’s list in border areas, ECI must look into this,” state BJP chief said. Reating to the BJP’s charge, Trinamool Congress said: “We told the Election Commission that it is direct blame on you since you make the list.” ‘BJP spreading hatred’ The TMC also complained to the ECI about alleged communal speeches made by the BJP leaders to spread hate. “We requested EC to take note of it. We all want peaceful & fair elections. This ‘goli maro’ etc is provocation to divide the society. They are terrorising people to vote for them,” TMC leader Firhad Hakim said.

source https://bbcbreakingnews.com/2021/01/21/ec-team-in-west-bengal-bjp-seeks-central-forces-trinamool-petitions-against-bsf/

[dailymagazinblog]

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], Dec 11 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while reacting to election trends, termed the assembly poll results as 'semi-final' ahead of the 2019 'final match'. In a series of tweets, she said it is the people who are always the "man of the match" in a democracy. She said, "Semifinal proves that BJP is nowhere in all the states. This is a real democratic indication of 2019 final match. Ultimately, people are always the 'man of the match' of democracy. My congrats to the winners," she said. Stating that people have voted against the BJP, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief asserted, "People voted against BJP. This is the people's verdict and victory of the people of this country. Victory of democracy and victory against injustice, atrocities, destruction of institutions, misuse of agencies, no work for poor people, farmers, youth, Dalits, SC, ST, OBC, minorities and general caste." The Chief Minister further said that the great institution of the country must strive to remain independent. "Let us cherish the 'idea of India' for which our freedom fighters laid down their lives. Our people and our great institutions must strive to remain "independent", in the true sense of the word," Banerjee tweeted. With an aim to defeat BJP in the general elections slated next year, Chief Minister Banerjee had recently announced to hold a mega anti-BJP rally on January 19 and claimed that several top opposition leaders from across the country have already confirmed their presence on the occasion. As per latest trends by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Congress is ahead of the BJP in Rajasthan. But there is a neck-and-neck fight in Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, the Mizo National Front (MNF) with leads on 17 seats, continued to surge ahead of the Congress and the BJP. In Telangana, the ruling TRS is maintaining a lead of 84 seats in an assembly strength of 119. Congress and BJP are ahead on 20 and 2 seat, respectively. (ANI)

https://www.aninews.in/news/semifinal-shows-bjp-is-nowhere-in-2019-says-mamata-banerjee201812111511180001/

[supertechnologysocialnewslo-blog]

Election Commission seeks Centre's stand on Oppn budget delay demand

The Commission of India (ECI) has written to Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha, seeking Centre's stand on the Opposition's plea to postpone the Budget presentation to a day after March 8, the last date of polling in Uttar Pradesh. As per the ECI sources, this has been done by the Election Commission as per normal procedure. This move from the ECI comes just a day after a delegation of the opposition parties met all three Election Commissioners, Naseem Zaidi, OP Rawat and AK Joti. On Thursday the opposition demanded the date for India Budget News presentation be shifted till after the elections get over. The Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and others said they were not in favour of February 1 as the start of the budget session. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the negation has been put forward as it would lead to biased elections, which are against the constitution and democracy, adding further that they have no problem with any date post elections. "If the government wants, it can call session from 31. But, only the budget should be presented post March 8, as it is the last date of elections. It can choose any date after March 8 as it can announce it any day before March 31," he said. TMC leader Derek O'Brien resonated the same saying the Centre can present the budget after March 8, once the elections get over. "It is about 15-16 opposition parties together. There is a simple solution - the government has enough time to present the budget after March 8. It can get it passed before March 31. That is the fair way of doing," he said.

[trytechnicstimes]

WB Assembly Polls 2021 : BJP candidate of Behala Paschim Srabanti Chatterjee filed a case in ECI against TMC

WB Assembly Polls 2021 : BJP candidate of Behala Paschim Srabanti Chatterjee filed a case in ECI against TMC

Published by: Tiyasha Sarkar |    Posted: April 7, 2021 2:43 pm|    Updated: April 7, 2021 2:50 pm ধ্রুবজ্যোতি বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়: বেহালা পশ্চিম (Behala Paschim) কেন্দ্রের ক্লাবগুলোকে দুষ্কৃতী ডেরা বানিয়েছে তৃণমূল! নির্বাচন কমিশনে এই অভিযোগ জানিয়ে কটাক্ষের শিকার বিজেপি প্রার্থী শ্রাবন্তী চট্টোপাধ্যায়। রাজনৈতিকভাবে এই অভিযোগের বিরোধিতায় সরব বেহালার তৃণমূল নেতৃত্ব। একাধিক ক্লাবও শ্রাবন্তীর এই…

[eagle-eyez]

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: 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

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