Kolkata (West Bengal): The second wave of COVID-19 has already impacted different parts of India and West Bengal is no different. The number of infected persons in the state is increasing every day.
The apprehension graph is also on the rise and more aggravated due to the style of campaigning by the different political parties. In most campaign rallies, social distancing norms and health protocols are being blatantly violated.
Trinamool Congress had demanded the clubbing of the last three phases in one or two phases. On the other hand, BJP and United Alliance declared that they will welcome any decision taken by the ECI.
In such a situation, the ECI curtailed the timing of campaigning. The political parties too, on their parts, have started avoiding mega campaign gatherings.
Now the question doing rounds is, whether this curtailed campaign will have any impact on the poll equations or not. Whether COVID-19 will bring about any change in the political equations of Bengal?
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Political observers feel last moment campaigns and reaching out to voters are always important for any political party. So this curtailed campaign period will definitely affect all the political parties.
Though both Trinamool Congress and BJP feel this curtailed campaign timing will not have any impact on their poll equations.
According to senior Trinamool Congress leader Tapas Roy, his party always believes in politics for the people.
“Elections will come in every five years. But, human life is more important. So we ourselves have voluntarily reduced campaign timings. It is not important how aggressively we campaign during this crisis period. The people understand everything. BJP might campaign round-the-clock. But, people will not support them,” Roy said.
BJP leader Sisir Bajoria said during this crisis the most important thing is how to shield the common people from this Covid-19 second wave. “However, the people of West Bengal have already decided who they would vote for this time,” he said.
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The Left Front was the first political force to announce that they will avoid big gatherings in view of the virus crisis. According to CPI(M) politburo member, Mohd. Salim, the curtailed campaign timings will not impact the decision of the voters.
“Rather, people can now think about how this government failed to reduce their sufferings during the crisis period and how these governments have resorted to lame excuses to shield their failures,” he said.
Senior Congress leader Suvankar Sarkar said that all political parties should first take into consideration the issues of public welfare in view of the current COVID-19 crisis.
“So we have already focused on virtual campaigns rather than organising public gatherings. Our leader, Rahul Gandhi has already postponed all his campaign programmes in view of the crisis. But, those who should have been more sensitive, are neglecting the public welfare issues,” he said.
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Renowned political observer and the former principal of the Presidency College, Dr Amal Kumar Mukhupahdyay is in agreement with political parties on this count.
“I don’t think that cancellation of these last moment campaigns will impact the poll equations. Rather these public campaigns will aggravate the chance of infection further. Now political parties should first consider the public interest. At the same time, the people, in general, should be more conscious,” he said.
