Mamta Banerjee questions eight-phase assembly election

Questioning the eight-phase assembly elections in West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that she suspects that the dates were announced as per the suggestions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah for better management of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s poll campaign.

"I respect the EC's decision, but why break-up the districts. South 24 Parganas is our stronghold, voting there will be held in 3 different phases. Has this been done as per suggestions of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah," Mamata Banerjee said soon after the EC announced poll schedule for 4 states and the Union territory of Puducherry.

Addressing a press conference at her residence in Kalighat, Mamata Banerjee said the Election Commission should not look at the state "through the eyes of the saffron camp" -- a reference to the BJP.

Ms Banerjee also raised questioned on the appointment of police observers and said one of them was deployed in State during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls also.

The Trinamool Congress said the Election Commission should consider West Bengal “as their own State and not from the eyes of the BJP”.

The Chief Minister however, asserted that even in the 23-day election game, she would defeat the BJP as she is from the grass roots. “I know every nook and corner of West Bengal very well and will foil all conspiracy,” she said.

The BJP has welcomed the long-drawn election schedule and said that it was a matter of shame that West Bengal has to have elections in so many phases was because of the history of political violence.

“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seems to be mistaking Election Commission of India with the State Election Commission which has been working at whims and fancies of the State government and we have seen the results in local polls,” State BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said.