West Bengal Votes In 5th Phase Under Shadow Of Covid Surge

Saturday, 17 April 2021Newsdesk

Bengal is voting for 45 of 294 seats today in the fifth - and biggest - of its eight poll phases, which are being held amid a surge in Covid cases - over four lakh have been reported in the past 48 hours. 16.15 per cent turnout was recorded till 9am.

New Delhi, 17 April 2021

As per news report of NDTV, On Friday evening, the Election Commission ordered a 72-hour 'silence period', instead of the usual 48 hours, ahead of the remaining rounds of voting. The poll body cited the coronavirus pandemic and also said election rallies and meetings - on days when campaigning is allowed - would be banned between 7 pm and 10 am. The Commission, criticised for not enforcing COVID-19 protocols - openly violated by political leaders, including those from the BJP - also said all candidates had to wear face masks, and that it would be the duty of rally organisers to ensure that the thousands of attendees also wore faces masks, maintained social distancing and used hand sanitisers.

Source -NDTV