EC keeps vigil on social media campaign: DC
Mangaluru, May 9: Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said that as social media is also being considered as electronic media, the Election Commission is keeping a strict vigil on the election campaigns in social media.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, he said that there is no provision in social media about campaigning in favour of any candidate or party. So, the Election Commission would watch the election-related posts in social media and record them. If there are any serious issues of violating election code of conduct, police would take action. So, before posting any such posts, people should take care, he said.
Voter slip is not mandatory
Already, 80 percent voters slips were distributed in the district. But in some places, voters were not given the slips. But such persons could get the slips from the respective BLOs at polling booths on voting day. But voters slip is not mandatory for voting. Instead, those who have their names in the voters list should produce either voter ID or any one of the 12 documents to cast their votes, the DC said.
To help the voters, the details regarding the polling booth, candidates and other information would be displayed in front of the polling booth. Total 517 sensitive polling booths were indentified in the district. Of which, 97 polling booths were installed web cameras and micro-observers were appointed for 221 polling booths, he said.
ADC Vaishaly was present at the press meet.
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BJP dreaming to win polls with money power: West Bengal BJP MLA after bypoll loss
Kolkata, Nov 23: As the ruling Trinamool Congress swept the by-elections in six assembly seats in West Bengal, Kurseong's party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma attacked the state leadership, saying the party dreams of winning polls with money power and that it sidelines legislators and gives "unnecessary importance and responsibilities" to MPs.
The TMC retained five of the six seats it had previously won during the 2021 polls, while wresting the key Madarihat seat from the saffron camp in north Bengal’s Alipurduar district.
In a Facebook post, Sharma alleged, "The BJP runs a membership drive in West Bengal over the phone from a Kolkata office, while party leaders turn a blind eye to factionalism within the party. The party sidelines MLAs and gives unnecessary importance and responsibilities to MPs. It dreams of winning elections relying on money power. Despite having no shortage of political issues in the state, it centers its politics solely around religion."
"The BJP accuses opponents of corruption while carrying Adani and Ambani on its shoulders. It tries to undermine the rights of the indigenous population by luring Bangladeshi Hindus with promises of CAA. It halts MGNREGA funds and indulges in such tactics, hoping to win elections in the state," he alleged.
On the other hand, the BJP MLA lauded TMC saying, that the ruling party in the state, armed with 26 different "pro-poor schemes" such as Kanyashree Prakalpa, Gitanjali Housing Scheme, Krishak Bandhu Scheme, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Rupashree Prakalpa, Shishu Sathi Scheme, and Student Credit Card, quietly works at the grassroots level.
"Now, you decide who will win the elections. I have never seen a culture of self-criticism within the BJP; otherwise, this outcome wouldn't have occurred," he added.
Since the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC has won every by-election, except the Sagardighi bypoll in March 2023, which was won by a Congress candidate who later switched to the TMC.
With this victory, TMC's tally in the 294-member state assembly rose to 216, further consolidating its position. The BJP's tally, on the other hand, dropped to 69, from 77 in 2021.
