Corona crisis: TMC to appeal State EC to defer civic polls

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday during the all-party meeting will appeal to the West Bengal State Election Commission to defer the dates of the ensuing civic polls as a precautionary measure to prevent any inconvenience to common people due to the prevailing threat of COVID-19.

Top leadership of TMC has confirmed the parties decision taken on Sunday evening. Later, the party issued a statement mentioning: "Elections will come and go. Politics must take a backseat when society is faced with such a threat. Political parties must come together and join hands to ensure social well being."

The move of Trinamool Congress to ensure the safety of people comes at a time when the state BJP president Dilip Ghosh raised a demand to defer the polls while attending a "cha chakra" at Sakher Bazar on Sunday afternoon.

"We are well aware of the prevailing threat of COVID-19 which has also been declared a pandemic by WHO. The West Bengal State Government has issued advisories and implemented several measures with regard to precautions citizens need to take to ensure their safety," stated the communique. Trinamool Congress has further stated in the communique that "in the wake of such a crisis, we shall appeal to the State Election Commission of West Bengal to defer the upcoming civic polls. In fighting this pandemic, political parties must stand shoulder to shoulder with the people we represent."

Party supremo and the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also urged all to avoid heavy gathering of people as a precautionary measure to check the spread of COVID-19.

There would be a public meeting, door-to-door campaigns, political rallies once the election dates are declared and it would increase the chances of the virus getting spread. So the ruling party has taken the decision to ensure that the people of Bengal don't face any trouble.

The move comes at the time when the state government has taken a series of measures and created awareness among people about the steps that need to be taken as precautionary measures. Though there is no positive case of COVID-19 in the state, doctors and medical staff in hospitals are ready to fight any odd situation. On Sunday an elderly woman, whose son returned from abroad just 15 days ago, was admitted to Beliaghata ID Hospital. At present, as many as 10 people are admitted in the hospital including one who recently returned from Switzerland.

According to the hospital sources, samples of 58 people were sent for test, but none tested positive. The doctors are waiting for reports of 10 more tests. The state government has already set up a quarantine centre at Rajarhat.

Meanwhile, the age-old tradition of offering prasad to the hundreds of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad at Belur Math will be suspended till April 14. No devotee will be allowed to sit at the Ramakrishna temple to attend the morning and evening prayer in the evening. However, the RKM authorities will allow them to sit in front of three giant screens to watch the evening prayer.

On Sunday the city wore a deserted look compared to that of other weekends as most of the important installations including Indian Museum, Victoria Memorial Hall and Science City remained closed. Earlier it was announced that these establishments will remain closed till March 31. However, footfall at Alipore Zoo was around 12,000 on Sunday. The zoo authorities have taken all necessary precautionary measures including screening of people at the entry points itself.

Even the Calcutta High Court has said that only urgent cases will be heard from Monday to avoid heavy gathering and several advisories were given for all courts across the state as well. The Kolkata Police has also started awareness campaign and the Enforcement Branch officers carried out raids to ensure no black marketing of hand sanitisers and masks were done.

Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya and CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty also stated that they would also support the decision of TMC to deffer the civic polls as it was a question of safety of the people.

Meanwhile, it was announced that passenger movements at all immigration check posts located at India's border shared with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar will remain suspended from March 15 while movements along the Indo-Pak border, too, will remain suspended from March 16.