West Bengal local election likely to be deferred due to coronavirus threat

Elections to Kolkata Municipal Corporation and 107 other civic bodies of West Bengal are likely to be deferred for at least a month in view of the novel coronavirus threat.

The state election commission held a meeting with the representatives of all the political parties in the state at its office in Kolkata on Monday. The ruling Trinamool Congress had already informed the commission that they were in favour of deferring the election in view of the current emergency situation.

In a rare show of unity, the BJP, the CPI(M) and the Congress have also come out in support of the move of the ruling party.

However, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said the suggestion should have come from the state government on whether it would be prudent to hold the election this time.

“If government feels that it will not be wise to hold (election) at this juncture, we will definitely support the government,” Ghosh said on Monday.

Similarly, CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty said his party would support any move of the commission.

“We will support the commission if it finds the timing is not suitable for holding the election,” said he.

Saurav Kumar Das, state election commission, had reportedly held a meeting with both Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar before hearing the political parties. 

Did West Bengal undermine virus scare?

Meanwhile, the chief minister is holding a mammoth meeting with the chief secretary and other officials at state secretariat to deal with the Covid-19 situation. There were criticism that the state undermined the initial response and took time to come out with a strategy to deal with the deadly virus despite the state having free border with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and a small tiny portion with Tibet.

The Banerjee government has now decided to create isolation wards in every district hospital and medical camps across the state. Special attention has been given in the border areas of the state.

Television and film industry has closed down their shooting in the Tollygunge studio owing to virus threat. Thermal gates are going to be installed at major malls in Kolkata. The government is yet to take decision on closing down the shops as there was no confirmed case of detection in the state. The chief minister refused to order a total shut down as it would result in a massive economic loss.

Ram Krishna Mission has stopped mass gathering during prayer. However, temples would not be closed and crowds would not be allowed in Belur Math temple.

“All school and ICDS centers would be closed. All reality shows and cinema halls and stadiums would be closed from today till March 31. We will drop food for children of ICDS centers at their homes.  We will review the situation on March 30,” said Banerjee.

Holidays to schools, declared earlier till March 31, have been further extended to April 15.

Banerjee asked people to stay at home for 28 days if any of them has got fever. She said her government’s decision came after the advisory of the central government based on a WHO report. The state government has decided to keep hand santisers at its offices. She has also asked the railway ministry to run frequent trains to avoid over crowding.

Banerjee refused to stop the religious gathering, but said, “I am thankful to Ram Krishna Mission to take proper initiative. I am leaving this to the conscience of the religious leaders.” 

Banerjee said police have been asked to raid markets to prevent alleged hoarding of sanitary liquids and face masks.