Backstory: Elections Are Contributing to the Coarseness of Our Public Discourse
A fortnightly column from The Wire s public editor.
File photo of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. Photo: PTI
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One of the major markers of Indian democracy has been the relatively uninterrupted conduct of elections. Much computer time has been spent describing, analysing and reporting on this exercise which has taken place with admirable regularity since 1952. S.Y. Quraishi, former chief election commissioner of India, begins his 2014 book,
An Undocumented Wonder The Making of the Great Indian Election, with a quote from V. Mitchell’s news report on the 2009 general election for the
Updated Apr 10, 2021 | 14:43 IST
Violence erupted during the fourth phase of assembly elections in West Bengal today in which five people were killed in two separate incidents. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee | Photo Credit: ANI
Kolkata: After five people were killed in poll-related incidents in West Bengal s Cooch Behar, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday alleged that the incident was part of a conspiracy hatched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a bid to intimidate voters.
While addressing a press conference, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy raised questions on the conduct of the Central forces deployed in the state to maintain law and order during the assembly polls and asked why did it open fire on the common people?
Samajwadi Party to form outfit after Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar s name
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Last Updated: Apr 10, 2021, 06:50 PM IST
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SP president Akhilesh Yadav announced the decision to form the outfit on the occasion of Dr Ambedkar s birth anniversary on April 14 in a tweet, saying it will have units at the levels of the country, various states and their districts.
In an apparent bid to widen its electoral base, the Samajwadi Party on Saturday decided to set up Babasaheb Vahini , a party affiliated outfit after Dalit icon Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar s name. SP president Akhilesh Yadav announced the decision to form the outfit on the occasion of Dr Ambedkar s birth anniversary on April 14 in a tweet, saying it will have units at the levels of the country, various states and their districts.
Defending her remarks, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is learnt to have told the Election Commission on Saturday that she has the highest regard for central armed police forces, but there have been serious allegations of CAPF intimidating voters and influencing the electorate to cast their vote for a particular political party.
Responding to a notice issued by the poll panel on Thursday seeking explanation over her prima facie completely false, provocative and intemperate statements against the central armed police forces deputed on election duty in the state, the Trinamool Congress chief denied the contents of the EC communication.
Mamata also urged the poll watchdog to rescind its notice, contending she has not violated the model code or the various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021: Mamata asks people to remain calm as storm brews over voter deaths telegraphindia.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from telegraphindia.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.