KOLKATA: On a day the ever rising graph of Covid infections in the state almost touched the 12,000 mark with 2372 new infections in North 24 Parganas alone, Bengal recorded its lowest turnout at 79.1% among the six phases of the elections conducted so far. Poll officials and candidates blamed Covid-19 for the drop in voters’ turnout this time.
With only 76.2% voter turnout at North 24 Parganas – the largest district in the state – Bhatpara, Barrackpore and Noapara clocked below 70% polling at 65%, 67% and 69.8% respectively. “This was bound to happen. Such is the state of Covid in our district and especially in our assembly that many people didn’t step out to vote. Also, several others have gone back to their villages in UP and Bihar to be with their family, who are also hit by Covid-19. That resulted in the low turnout,” said Pawan Singh, the sitting Bhatpara MLA and BJP candidate. In 2016, Bhatpara had registered 75.02% polling.
Be it in the entire Barrackpore industrial zone, Bongaon, Nadia, North Dinajpur or East Burdwan, Covid had cast its shadow as majority of voters and candidates along with their supporters were found donning masks and maintaining some level of social distancing which were literally absent in the earlier phases of the election.
Clad in a PPE and walking back slowly to the ambulance after casting his vote in the last hour on Thursday, Nadia- Karimpur’s BJP candidate Samarendranath Ghosh regretted for being negligent during his early days of poll campaigns and spending the last 10 days in home isolation with fever and breathing complications after being tested Covid positive. “During the start of April, the Covid numbers were not this high and so there was lack of social awareness. I guess we should have all been more careful,” Ghosh told TOI over phone while in isolation at his home.
Two other candidates Krishnanagar South’s Ujjwal Biswas and Khardaha’s Kajal Sinha – both contesting on TMC tickets — were tested positive too. While Sinha missed his vote, being admitted at Beleghata ID Hospital, controversy erupted over Biswas casting his vote without a PPE and in presence of polling officials, who too were without the protective dress – a must-have as per the EC guidelines concerning Covid patients. “I was tested positive a week ago but I don’t have any symptoms. I even wore a mask and gloves,” said Biswas, while arguing in favour of his case.
But apart from sporadic instances of violations from voters as well as political workers, Covid protocols were largely maintained.
“When I reached the Naihati Mahendra School to cast my vote, I was surprised to find the queues were very well maintained and there were uniformed personnel checking temperatures, and providing sanitisers and gloves. Those who were without masks, were even stopped from entering the school gate by CRPF personnel and were asked to get a mask from home,” said Sarbani Bhattacharya, a homemaker in Naihati.
— with inputs from Ashis Poddar in Nadia
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