The Indian Electoral Commission has stated that it is “not feasible” to merge the remaining stages of the West Bengal elections in light of the legal requirements related to election notification.
Because of the pandemic, the Trinamool Congress aimed at clubbing phases 6, 7 and 8.
The party had argued that this was possible because all parties would have had 52 days of campaigning, even if the phases had been grouped into clubs.
However, the ECI has determined that the 52-day filing is “misleading” and inconsistent with Section 30 (d) of the Representation Act 1951.
In the said provision, it is stated in the EC that the announcement of the election plan “must not be before the fourteenth day after the last date for the withdrawal of candidacies”.
“With this legal requirement in mind, notifications have been published about the election schedule, which stipulates a period of at least 14 days for each phase of the survey. Each election phase is different and is communicated separately under 30 of the RP Act 1951, ”the ECI said.
“The claim that 52 days of the campaign period were used is not compliant with the law,” said EC, describing the TMC proposal as “not feasible”.
In a new notice to the parties, the European Commission has asked them to comply with the Covid protocols. Otherwise, no action will be taken against them, including the cancellation of rallies.