As per initial trends, TMC is ahead in the state of West Bengal in at least 200 seats. As trends showed a landslide victory for Mamata Banerjee led TMC, the workers of the party have now reportedly gheraod the BJP office in Hastings, Kolkata.
After the predicted decisive victory for TMC, there have been fears that BJP workers and those who supported and voted for the party might face backlash from the TMC and its workers. That the workers are now congregating in front of the BJP office has many worried about the consequences that might be faced by BJP workers post the predicted victory.
The euphoria of TMC workers was also visible in Asansol. After the Election Commission asked the officials and police to ensure that no congregations are allowed post election results, the Bengal police was seen instructing TMC party workers to stop their celebrations and maintain protocol amidst rising COVID-19 cases.
Instead of paying heed to what Bengal police was asking them to comply with, the TMC workers were seen bursting a fire cracker right next to the police officer to intimidate the officer.
#WATCH | A police personnel instructs TMC supporters to stop celebrations in Asansol
EC asks States/UTs to "prohibit victory celebrations urgently", also directs that responsible SHOs/officers must be suspended immediately and criminal& disciplinary actions must be initiated pic.twitter.com/QUuVO3CrzV
The development comes amidst growing Coronavirus cases in the State. As of May 2, West Bengal has reported 11,66,59 active cases and a total of 11,447 fatalities.
On Sunday (April 2), Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers hit the streets to celebrate the victory of the party in complete violation of Coronavirus protocols and social distancing guidelines.
As per reports, the jubilant celebration on the street by TMC workers began as initial election result trends suggested the victory of the incumbent government in West Bengal. At one point, when the TMC tally crossed 200, party workers gathered in the streets in Kalighat in Kolkata. In visuals shared by ANI, they were seen dancing to the tune of loud music, playing ‘Holi’, waving party flags, and breaching Coronavirus protocols.
Visuals shared by India Today journalist Rahul Kanwal also showed a grim picture of the social distancing violation in the State. TMC workers were seen flouting SOPs right outside the residence of party supremo Mamata Banerjee. Interestingly, the cops deployed at the site were seen managing the traffic flow instead of stopping the TMC supporters from celebrating. This is despite the fact that a complete lockdown has been enforced in the State capital of Kolkata. The party workers were spotted without masks and standing in close vicinity of each other.
On being reminded by an India Today reporter that the Election Commission (EC) has barred the political party from mass gatherings and celebrations, a TMC worker justified, “We are not celebrating. Others requested me to put on some colours and I did. A little bit of celebration here and there cannot be stopped. If the public wants to celebrate, what can I do about it?” The TMC workers were also seen blocking the roads and disrupting traffic flow.
Celebrations outside Mamata Banerjee’s residence, social distancing rules being flouted. pic.twitter.com/EXXMLjHAU5
The development comes amidst growing Coronavirus cases in the State. As of May 2, West Bengal has reported 11,66,59 active cases and a total of 11,447 fatalities.
Counting of votes for Assembly elections 2021 has begun across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. The high octane elections concluded on 29th April 2021 as West Bengal voted for the last phase. The elections were also one of the largest exercise in democracy amid the raging coronavirus pandemic.
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After breaking global records in the month of April, India recorded its first dip in new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. Talking about the severity of the second wave of the pandemic, Department of Science & Technology secretary Ashutosh Sharma in an exclusive interview to The Economic Times suggested that no input was alarming as far as science is concerned.
Dismissing election rallies and the Kumbh as the reason for a sudden surge in new Covid-19 cases, Sharma said “Election rallies and others may have contributed a small fraction but please look at the totality and context of the overall behaviour seen in the country, even among enlightened sections of people. It had become pervasive.”
Sharma added that the Covid-19 supermodel committee had raised an informal alert in March as the modelling and various other studies could not predict the scale, intensity and ferocity of the second wave and the new mutant of the Covid-19 virus. The numbers expected were to be less than a lakh per day during the second wave.
In a committee meeting with the Niti Aayog and Dr VK Paul in early April, the prediction was of India hitting the peak in the third-fourth week of April with an intensity of less than a lakh per day, Sharma informed.
Talking about the studies and predictions, Sharma added “Clearly what was predicted was far short of the reality, probably because inputs to the model changed — mutations in the virus which probably required less loading for the disease to take hold.”
On the science behind the virus
When asked if the messaging pertaining to the pandemic could have been better, Sharma insisted that there was no faulty messaging.
Explaining the science behind it, he added “Mathematical models also clearly and emphatically said that the behaviour of the virus was linked to that of the people. While scientific studies are still on, the strains look more infective. It is argued that the transmission is happening through aerosol. It is still under study how much viral load is leading to the onset of disease.
Comparatively, a small fraction is showing severe symptoms but it is not clear how that selection happens. Comorbidity and obesity are indicators. So was age but now it is shifting to a younger population that was not infected before — like fire to fuel. Several ongoing global studies and at our labs will give greater insight over time.”
Citing this as a difficult time, Sharma advised to stay away from the blame game.
On action points and imports
Informing about increasing medical oxygen capacity, Sharma revealed that the work is in progress to repurpose oxygen plants, identify additional startups and industries for oxygen production and build new designs to bridge the supply and demand gap. “However, the real bottleneck just now is supply and logistics. That is being addressed by expert groups,” he informed.
Favoring the imports, Sharma clarified that they had no inkling that the scale would be so huge and the intensity so high. Hence considering the unprecedented scale and the timely need for supplies, imports at a time of crisis is what all countries do, he informed.
Advising people to stay masked, Sharma concluded saying that there is a need to be constantly prepared and enhance expertise and infrastructure in research, in modelling and crisis response.
On May 2, the process of counting votes for assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory in underway. During West Bengal’s election result coverage, India Today’s journalist Rajdeep Sardesai commented that Trinamool Congress should treat Congress with Rasogullah if it wins Bengal.
Sardesai said, “What has happened clearly is that as the campaign went on in the sixth, seventh and eighth round, every time you see a greater polarization. By the time Malda, Murshidabad comes the polarization is so complete that the traditional Congress voter says Congress is not going to win I will give it to Mamata. I want to defeat the BJP. So the Congress also stopped campaigning. The Congress was in any way the defeatist mode in Bengal. And Mamata has benefitted from the Congress defeatism and therefore she needs to give Rasogullahs to Congress.”
To which Rahul Kanwal replied, “You are giving too much credit to the Congress. The Congress was never in the race.”
It is evident that Mamata Banerjee remains a popular local leader in West Bengal, however, while Rajdeep Sardesai was desperate to extend a face-saving rationale to Congress, Rahul Kanwal hit the nail on the head when he said that Congress was never in the race.
Rajdeep Sardesai’s history is filled with embarrassing moments
This is not the first time Sardesai has made comments that seem to have embarrassed his colleagues. Recently, during January 26 riots coverage, he did a lot of misleading and fake reporting, which was criticized heavily. The situation went so bad that he had to disconnect with India Today for a while.
West Bengal Assembly Election results
By 12:00 PM on May 2, according to Election Commission, TMC is leading on 194 seats while BJP is leading on 80. Three rounds have been completed so far, and the actual results should be out by 6 PM, Sunday. You can check our live coverage here.
The Police in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh were forced to lathi charge polling agents during the counting of votes in the Panchayat Elections that are underway. Visuals show the Police struggling to control the massive gathering and ensuring social distancing amidst the rising cases of Covid-19.
Voting for the Panchayat Elections in Uttar Pradesh ended on Thursday. The polling was held over 4 phases for the 8.69 lakh posts in the state. Gram panchayat, gram pradhan, block panchayat and zila panchayat seats went to the polls.
There are chaotic scenes at other places as well including Mainpuri, Ghiror and Kishani. The counting began later than the proposed time in many places, as per reports.
The elections have been marred by the specter of Covid-19. Around 135 teachers involved in the Panchayat Elections have reportedly lost their lives. The Allahabad High Court sent a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government over the same after it had earlier mandated that the polls be concluded by April 30.
Note: The report has been updated with a comment from the New Zealand Prime Minister.
A day after the Youth Congress pulled off a publicity stunt by pretending to supply oxygen cylinders to the Philippines embassy, the New Zealand embassy has now reached out for help to Youth Congress National President Srinivas BV.
In a tweet on Sunday (May 2), the New Zealand embassy in India bypassed the Ministry of External Affairs and sought oxygen supply from the youth wing of the Opposition Congress party. “Srinivas BV, could you please help with oxygen cylinder urgently at the New Zealand High Commission? Thank you,” the tweet read.
Screengrab of the tweet by New Zealand embassy
Srinivas B V then reached the New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders along with other Congress workers. “We have reached New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders. Please open the gates and save a soul on time. #SOSIYC”
Screengrab of the tweet by Srinivas BV
In another tweet, he informed, “Update- New Zealand high commission opened gates of the embassy and accepted cylinders. Also, they thanked the #SOSIYC team for this quick relief as patient inside embassy was critically ill.”
Screengrab of the tweet by Sreenivas BV
Netizens question the New Zealand embassy for its theatrics
Netizens were quick to question the action of the New Zealand embassy on social media. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya tweeted, “MEA has clarified that Embassy of Philippines has 0 COVID cases. Looking at IYC’s stunt of trying to give oxygen to that Embassy, a social media handler of the Embassy of New Zealand tweeted without putting request to MEA. HC of NZ has now apologized to MEA for this misinformation.”
MEA has clarified that Embassy of Philippines has 0 COVID cases.
Looking at IYC’s stunt of trying to give oxygen to that Embassy, a social media handler of Embassy of New Zealand tweeted without putting request to MEA.
Veteran journalist Kanchan Gupta asked whether the Ministry of External Affairs was contacted by the New Zealand High Commission prior to asking the Youth Congress President. “But for whom is @NZinIndia trying to “arrange for oxygen cylinders urgently”? Who needs them? Was @MEAIndia contacted?” he inquired.
Did @NZinIndia open its gates? The New Zealand High Commission must tell 1. Whom did they ask the oxygen for? 2. Did they contact MEA prior to public appeal? 3. If yes, what was MEA response? [I won’t even ask where are IYC folks getting O2 in Delhi even as ICUs are running dry.] pic.twitter.com/rOD3cuIkem
He further questioned, “Did @NZinIndia open its gates? The New Zealand High Commission must tell 1. Whom did they ask the oxygen for? 2. Did they contact MEA prior to public appeal? 3. If yes, what was MEA response? [I won’t even ask where are IYC folks getting O2 in Delhi even as ICUs are running dry.]”
Screengrab of the tweet by New Zealand High Commission
Following the controversy, the New Zealand embassy in India deleted its initial tweet. “We are trying all sources to arrange for oxygen cylinders urgently and our appeal has unfortunately been misinterpreted, for which we are sorry,” it apologised in a tweet.
Update: [3rd May, 2021] New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern has now issued a statement over the matter saying that a local individual required an oxygen cylinder. However, she said that ‘normal channels’ should have been used for the same and pointed out that their High Commission had already apologised over the matter.
Congress pulls off publicity stunt outside Philippines embassy, EAM slams party
On Saturday (May 1), Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter to thank the Youth Congress for supposedly responding to an emergency call for oxygen supply by the Embassy of the Republic of Philippines. He tweeted, “While I thank @IYC for its stellar efforts, as an Indian citizen I’m stunned that the youth wing of the opposition party is attending to SOS calls from foreign embassies. Is the MEA sleeping @DrSJaishankar ?” Jairam Ramesh had shared a video posted by Srinivas B V, the National President of the Youth Congress.
In the said video, a few people could be seen unloading an oxygen cylinder from a vehicle outside the Philippines embassy. A day later on Sunday, Union Minister for External Affairs (EAM) S Jaishankar responded to the claims made by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Twitter. He informed that the MEA verified the matter with the Philippines embassy and found that they had no Coronavirus cases. “MEA checked with the Philippines Embassy. This was an unsolicited supply as they had no Covid cases,” he wrote.
S Jaishankar further emphasised how the Congress party was denying oxygen cylinders to needy patients in its pursuit of petty politics. “Clearly for cheap publicity by you know who. Giving away cylinders like this when there are people in desperate need of oxygen is simply appalling,” he pointed out. The Union Minister for External Affairs concluded, “Jairamji, MEA never sleeps; our people know across the world. MEA also never fakes; we know who does.”
As predicted by the exit polls, the West Bengal assembly elections have proved to be close contest so far. Both BJP and TMC are running neck and neck, with Mamata Banerjee led TMC marginally ahead. It is expected that when the final results are out, a large number of seats will see wins by a narrow margin, due to the close nature of the contest.
In this context, it is worth remembering that during the 2016 assembly elections also, a large number of seats were won by a narrow margin. Out of total 294 seats in the state, as many as 37 seats were won by a margin of less than 5000 votes. Among them, the difference of vote between the winning candidate and the runners up was less than 1000 votes.
Murarai constituency had seen the closest contest, with TMC candidate Abdur Rahaman defeating Congress candidate Ali Mortuza Khan by just 280 votes.
Constituency
Winner
Votes
Runners up
Votes
Margin
Murarai
TMC
94661
INC
94381
280
Raina
TMC
94323
CPI(M)
93875
448
Basirhat Uttar
CPI(M)
97828
TMC
97336
492
Tamluk
CPI
95432
TMC
94912
520
Barjora
CPI(M)
86873
TMC
86257
616
Manteswar
TMC
84134
CPI(M)
83428
706
Bishnupur, Bankura
INC
76641
TMC
75750
891
Katwa
TMC
91489
INC
90578
911
Bankura
INC
83486
TMC
82457
1029
Noapara
INC
79548
TMC
78453
1095
Kaliganj
INC
85125
TMC
83898
1227
Raidighi
TMC
101161
CPI(M)
99932
1229
Pandua
CPI(M)
91489
TMC
90097
1392
Jamalpur
CPI(M)
85491
TMC
84068
1423
Balurghat
RSP
60590
TMC
59140
1450
Kalchini
TMC
62061
BJP
60550
1511
Samserganj
TMC
48381
CPI(M)
46601
1780
Chandannagar
TMC
75727
CPI(M)
73613
2114
Chhatna
RSP
73648
TMC
71231
2417
Habibpur
CPI(M)
64095
TMC
61583
2512
Malatipur
INC
50643
RSP
48043
2610
Purbasthali Uttar
CPI(M)
84549
TMC
81721
2828
Panihati
TMC
73545
INC
70515
3030
Panskura Paschim
TMC
92427
CPI
89282
3145
Khandaghosh
TMC
90151
CPI(M)
86949
3202
Nagrakata
TMC
57306
INC
54078
3228
Karandighi
TMC
54599
AIFB
51367
3232
Kumarganj
TMC
64501
CPI(M)
61005
3496
Suti
INC
84017
TMC
80067
3950
Kamarhati
CPI(M)
62194
TMC
57996
4202
Tapan
TMC
72511
RSP
68110
4401
Baisnabnagar
BJP
70185
INC
65688
4497
Harirampur
CPI(M)
71447
TMC
66943
4504
Amta
INC
89149
TMC
84645
4504
Kushmandi
RSP
68965
TMC
65436
4529
Panskura Purba
CPI(M)
85334
TMC
80567
4767
Purulia
INC
81365
TMC
76454
4911
Seats won with less than 5000 margin in West Bengal 2016 elections
Among the 37 wins by less than 5000 votes, TMC candidates had won in 20 seats. CPI(M) had won 7 seats and Congress had won 5 seats by similarly narrow margins.
Trinamool Congress had won 211 seats in the 2016 elections out of the total 294 seats, winning a comprehensive victory. Congress had come second with 44 seats, and BJP had won only 3 seats. But the trends are completely different this time, and the final results are going to be very close. Although TMC seems to be leading so far, its final tally is going to be significantly less than the last assembly elections, and BJP is going to make a substantial improvement over its tally of just 3 seats in 2016.
The CEO of the Serum Institute of India Adar Poonawalla has temporarily moved out of the country after facing threats from the most powerful men in India after Rahul Gandhi and other opposition members have constantly fear-mongered and demonised him.
Calling out the perpetrators, India Today’s Rahul Kanwal in a shocking revelation has confessed that the most powerful men and others issuing threats to Poonawalla happen to be none other than the ruling party of Maharashtra: Shiv Sena.
While conversing with his colleague covering election results, the anchor got into a monologue describing the COVID-19 situation and temporary migration of Adar Poonawalla. It is then that Rahul Kanwal revealed, “…And I actually saw this. He (Adar Poonawalla) sent me some videos of some Shiv Sena locals showing up outside his factory, giving him the choicest of gaalis (abuses) and saying ‘humko pehle do’ (give us the vaccines first) and this is bizarre.”
To cover up, Rahul Kanwal and ‘serial apology issuer’ Rajdeep Sardesai bashed the supremos of the Bhartiya Janta Party for focusing on West Bengal elections and ‘allowing Kumbh to take place’ when they should have allegedly focused on the vaccine policy and controlling the corona situation.
Partaking in the blame game or what can be seen as an attempt to whitewash, Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi congratulated Adar Poonawalla for his service and saying those in power should be held accountable. Her Tweet read, “Kudos to @SerumInstIndia and @adarpoonawalla for all that they have been doing for the nation. No price quoted is decided without GoI approval. Sad he has been made the misplaced target of attack without holding those in power accountable.”
Kudos to @SerumInstIndia and @adarpoonawalla for all that they have been doing for the nation. No price quoted is decided without GoI approval. Sad he has been made the misplaced target of attack without holding those in power accountable. https://t.co/y47nZyR5Xg
Meanwhile, Poonawalla through his latest Tweet has assured that the production of Covishield the Covid-19 vaccine is in full swing in Pune and that he will review the production once he is back in the country.
Poonawalla reveals threats he received from powerful people who demanded him urgent supplies of Covishield
Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine known as Covishield in India, has hinted that he is planning to start vaccine production in other countries as it struggles to meet supply commitments. Poonawalla made the revelation in an interview with The Times.
He also revealed how he has been facing threats from the powerful.
Poonawalla flew to London to join his wife and two children hours before Britain banned travellers from India eight days ago. Besides business, the reason that prompted Poonawalla to leave India was the incessant and menacing threats he had to endure from those who pressurise and intimidate him to provide them with vaccines.
He says he has been receiving calls from the most powerful men in India, chief ministers of Indian states, heads of business conglomerates and other influential people who are demanding him of providing them with vaccines even as his organisation is working round the clock to fulfil the vaccine demand.
“Threats is an understatement. The level of expectations and aggression is really unprecedented. It’s overwhelming. Everyone feels they should get the vaccine. They can’t understand why anyone else should get it before them,” Poonawalla reportedly said to The Times.
Poonawalla explained the calls he receives normally start with exchanging pleasantries before it drifts in a “very different direction”. “They are saying if you don’t give us the vaccine, it’s not going to be good…It’s not the foul language, it’s the tone. It’s the implication of what they might do if I don’t comply. It’s taking control,” he said.
He further added, “I’m staying here (Britain) extended times because I don’t want to go back to that situation. Everything falls on my shoulders but I can’t do it alone…I don’t want to be in a situation where you are trying to do your job, and just because you can’t supply the needs of X, Y and Z you really don’t want to guess what they are going to do.”
Update: Rahul Kanwal has taken back his statement.
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan, who is lodged in Sitapur jail, may be shifted to Lucknow as his health has deteriorated after being infected with Covid-19. Azam Khan, along with 13 other prisoners in the jail had tested positive for Coronavirus on Friday. Khan has over fifty cases registered against him.
RS Yadav, jailor, Sitapur Jail, said that Khan’s RT-PCR test was conducted after his antigen report came positive on Thursday, which also came positive on late Friday night. He complained of cold and fever for a few days, after which his Covid test was conducted. The jailer said the treatment of the SP leader is going on as per Covid-19 protocol and he has been isolated in the jail.
Azam Khan was keeping Roza in jail, but he stopped keeping Roza due to the illness.
Abdullah Khan, son of Azam Khan, who is also lodged in the same jail, has also tested positive for the infection. Jailor RS Yadav said that around 69 inmates were tested for the infection. Those who are infected among them have been shifted to a different ward in the jail.
Covid cases in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India, is currently one of the top five adversely hit states by the second wave of Covid-19. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the state reported 30,180 new cases on May 1. There are 3,01,833 active cases in the state. 38,826 people were discharged on Saturday, while 304 people lost their lives due to Covid related complications.
