West Bengal is under its eight and last phase of election today amid the worsening Covid-19 condition in the state. The state is voting for 35 seats including Birbhum, Kolkata, Murshidabad and Malda.
Out of all 35 seats 6 are in Malda, 7 in Kolkata and 11 each in Birbhum and Murshidabad. Voting at total 11,860 polling centres is being held in this phase. Total 283 candidates are standing for elections today.
Two ministers — Sadhan Pande and Shashi Panji are standing for re-election tofay. Birbhum is the key constituency as it has long history of election-related violnec.
In all Covid has impacted the whole election process at large but this phase has had a worst impact as one of its candidate has succumbed to the virus and another is presently suffering due to the disease.
A leader from opposition BJP Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury from Englishbazar has also been admitted to the hospital after being infected with Covid-19.
On the other hand Nandita Sinha, wife of TMC candidate Kajal Sinha who died of Covid-19 has filed a case of murder against Election Commission.
The state has reported a high spike of 17,207 fresh cases with 3,821 only from state’s capital Kolkata in last 24 hours. Bengal also reported a death toll of 77.
The results for the elections held in the state for over a month along with other four states and UTs will be declared on May 2.
