Kolkata, Apr25 (FN Agency) West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday appealed to voters to cast their vote in the remaining seventh and eighth phase polling in the state. Amid the fear of catching the dreaded pandemic, about 81.88 lakh voters are eligible to press the EVMs to elect their 34 representatives in the seventh phase of polling in about 11,376 polling stations, spreading in five districts -Malda Part I, Kolkata South, Murshidabad Part I, West Bardhaman Part I and Dakshin Dinajpur- in the state.
Mr Dhankhar emphasized that democracy survives and blossoms only on the power of vote as the “Governance is based only on votes.” He urged the young and first time voters to vigorously participate in democratic festival- elections. “ Their vote will ensure a better life for them,” Mr Dhankar said on his twitter account. He exhorted that there can be no excuse for not to vote. “ Those failing to vote are doing great disservice to democracy,” Mr Dhankar added. The Governor also applauded the ECI for its affirmative role in securing high voting in six phases of polls. “ On comparative scale violence has been contained & voters freely exercised their right to vote. In trying situations CAPF, BSFand CRPF performed commendably,” Mr Dhankar said.
The state has witnessed over 80 per cent polling in previous six phases of poll to 224 seats so far. The state has altogether 294 seats. The result will be out on May 2. Two assembly seats poll for Samsherjung and Jangipur in Murshidabad to be held on May 16 as the previous candidates died due to Covid-19. Meanwhile all the necessary preparations were being finalised for the seventh phase of polling as the security personnel have taken their respective posts, even as the polling personnel began movement to ensure on time voting from 7 am on Monday. The polling will be conducted from 0700 hrs to 1830 hrs. The EC has decided to use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) along with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at every polling station, to ensure transparency and credibility of the election process, as VVPAT allows the voter to verify his/her vote.
In view of the prevailing pandemic, the EC said it will allow maximum 1,000 electors in a polling booth instead of earlier stipulation of 1,500 voters. Option of Postal Ballot facility also extended to the electors who are COVID- 19 positive or suspect as certified by competent authority and are in home or institutional quarantine along with those marked as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and above the age of 80 years.