Kolkata: The West Bengal government has decided to postpone elections to four municipal corporations, amid a massive upswing of Covid-19 cases in the state.
The civic body polls in Bidhannagar, Asansol, Chandannagar and Siliguri will now be held on February 12, which were scheduled to be held on January 22.
The decision comes after the Calcutta High Court asked the state Election Commission to see if polls can be deferred by a few weeks owing to the prevailing Covid scenario in the state.
The court issued an order while pointing out that the “recent Kolkata Municipal Elections were not good since the cases of Covid infected persons have risen thereafter”.
West Bengal on Friday reported 22,645 new Covid-19 cases — 822 less than the previous day — and 28 Covid-related fatalities, according to a state health department. The positivity rate dipped to 31.14 per cent from 32.13 per cent a day ago.
