‘A war of civilizations’: BJP, DMK, AIADMK, Congress welcome EC to announce poll dates for 4 states, 1 UT; TMC issue moves

New Delhi: Political parties on Sunday welcomed the Election Commission’s announcement of polling dates for four states and one Union Territory. West Bengal will vote in two phases from April 23, with Kerala, Assam and Puducherry voting on April 9 and Tamil Nadu on April 23; all results will be announced on May 4.In 2021, West Bengal will go to polls in eight phases and Assam in three phases. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry are likely to go for single-phase voting, while West Bengal and Assam are likely to go for multi-phase voting due to their larger number of voters.

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the Election Commission’s move to conduct Bengal elections in two phases, calling it a “battle of civilizations”. The Congress party also welcomed the Election Commission’s move to conduct polls in two phases in the state, but the TMC said the number of phases only “reflects the aspirations of the BJP”.

The poll panel had earlier announced that the assembly elections for 294 seats in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK) and the main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (AIADMK), welcomed the Election Commission’s announcement of single-phase voting in the state.

How did the Bharatiya Janata Party react?

Welcoming the move, the BJP expressed confidence of winning the West Bengal polls, saying “the countdown to the end of Mahajungle Raj has begun”, referring to the TMC government in the state.“This is not just an election, it is a battle of civilizations. On April 23 and 29, the people of West Bengal will vote in two phases to take back their future. The countdown to the end of Mahajungle Raj has begun. With 50 days to go, May 4 will mark a new dawn for Bengal,” the Bengal BJP said in a post on X.

How did TMC react?

The All India Trinamool Congress has downplayed the Election Commission’s decision to conduct Bengal elections in two phases, claiming that the polling schedule was fixed as per “the demands of its political masters”.The party also questioned what it called the “duality” of the committee, pointing out that the 2021 Assembly elections in the state were being held in eight phases despite high Covid-19 infection rates, while the upcoming polls will be limited to just two phases.TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said: “The number of stages only reflects the wishes of the BJP and the Election Commission is only complying with the demands of its political masters.”Chakraborty added: “Otherwise, how can one justify holding eight-phase polls in the state in 2021 when people are dying due to coronavirus infection and now it has been decided to hold polls in two phases when there is no such problem. The number of polls does not matter, people will destroy the BJP anyway,” Chakraborty added.

How Congress Reacted

Congress commended the Election Commission for announcing that elections will be held in one phase in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and in two phases in West Bengal.“I welcome the news that Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu will hold elections in one phase and West Bengal in two phases. I am happy that the number of phases has been condensed into one/two phases,” P Chidambaram said in a social media post. Senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya welcomed the decision to hold assembly elections in two phases in West Bengal but expressed concerns over whether voters would be able to freely exercise their franchise without intimidation.The former West Bengal Congress Committee chief said he raised the issue of alleged voter intimidation during an interaction with the entire assembly. election commission of india during a recent visit to the state.“I welcome the Election Commission’s move to hold polls in West Bengal in two phases. But my only concern is that voters can cast their votes freely without any fear,” Bhattacharya told PTI. “I have seen many elections where voters were not able to cast their votes even when there were six or seven phases,” he added.

What is the reaction of DMK, AIADMK?

The Dravida League (DMK) and the main opposition All India Anna Dravida League (AIADMK) and other political parties in Tamil Nadu on Sunday welcomed the schedule for assembly elections announced by the Election Commission of India and expressed confidence of winning the April 23 polls.DMK office-bearer Salem Dharanidharan said that ever since party president and chief minister MK Stalin took charge, his focus has remained on governance and public welfare, adding that the state government’s schemes are now being rolled out across the country.He also said that the party’s election preparations actually started from the day Stalin became the chief minister. “DMK will achieve a huge victory in the polls… It will be a sweep; winning more than 200 seats out of 234,” he said.Meanwhile, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said, “Our party president Edappadi K. Palaniswami has covered the campaign in nearly 200 constituencies. We are ready to face the polls tomorrow and whenever they are held, we will win.” He added that people support the AIADMK and expressed faith in the party and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance – including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam and Pattali Makkal Katchi – will achieve a major victory and form the next government in the state.