The pace of life did not stop at the footsteps of the second wave at the end of the first wave during the global pandemic. Politics did not stop. Voting in the election has not stopped. The presidential election in the United States has just been concluded. In India too, provincial assembly elections have been held in the state of Bihar in Corona period. Various elections and by-elections are being held in Bangladesh. Elections for Pourashavas across the country are ahead.
There are currently 300 Pourashavas in Bangladesh, of which 234 municipal elections were held simultaneously on 30 December 2015. The elected officials took oath in January / February of the next year (2016). As such, their term will end in February 2021.
According to the Pourashava law, there is an obligation to hold the election within 90 days before the expiration of the term. As a result, there is a possibility of Pourashava elections in December 2020. The Election Commission is also working towards this goal. Candidates from different parts of the country have come down in the field as part of the campaign.
There is a hint of fierce competition in the Pourashava elections of Bangladesh against the backdrop of fierce battles in various elections of the world during the Corona period. Analysts are predicting a clash of votes between candidates for mayor and councilor, especially due to local political polarization. In the past, the local level elections in Bangladesh were full of voting wars.
However, there are various opinions about the election environment and the picture of the vote during the Corona period because, the elections of Corona period have been different from the votes of other times. In the United States, for example, the Democrat candidate Biden-Kamala pair came to power through intense voting. Never before in the history of the United States has there been such a dramatic and provocative election. Tensions have been running high for seventy-two hours since the election. The results have been widely discussed around the world in three days with repeated changed information, statistical voting picture.
A record number of advance votes were cast. People have come to the booth less because of Corona. The number of postal votes was higher than any time. The Democrats' victory in collecting early votes has helped them win the election. At the time of the vote count, the situation was such that it seemed that Trump might be winning. There have been such intense poll battle in the United States this time.
The same picture was seen during the elections in Bihar, India. The pattern of intense fighting in the Corona-era polls is much like that of the United States. Not only in the number of seats in the NDA-UPA, but also in the Bihar Assembly elections, there has been a fierce battle in many centers. The situation is so close that victory and defeat in one seat has been decided by only 12 votes. The color of the vote in Corona was really exciting and disturbing.
The voting picture of the elections held during the Corona period is really noteworthy. Violent fighting and fierce competition are the hallmarks of the Corona vote. The upcoming Pourashava elections in Bangladesh will be held in the worst possible time. Considering the social distance, quarantine, etc., the possibility of the presence and participation of huge number of voters in the election is less this time as in the past. As a result, in order to win, the candidates have to be very tactful, hardworking as well as fully aware of the existing situation.