Kolkata, the capital of Indian state West Bengal, will witness a few spells of dry days in the third and fourth week of May as well as the first week of June due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) that mandates a liquor ban in areas where polls are being held, reports Times of India.
The restriction will be applicable for off-shops, bars, star hotels as well as clubs.
The total number of dry days will be seven, affecting a full and half of a weekend in May.
The dry days will be on May 18 (from 6 pm) and the entire May 19. May 20 will see liquor ban till the end of polling. As per the Election Commission (EC) directive, adjacent constituencies apart from the constituency where the election is being held, will also follow dry days.
Howrah will be going to polls on May 20 along with other constituencies. The next spell of dry days will be on May 30 (from 6 pm), while May 31 will be a full dry day. Restrictions will stay in force on June 1 till the conclusion of polling. The next dry day will be June 4, the counting day or result day.
The president of Hotel and Restaurants Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) and owner of Songhay and MS Bar & Lounge, Sudesh Poddar, feels the long spell of dry days is going to hit the hospitality industry.
"But this is inevitable, too," he added. Nitin Kothari, the owner of Peter Cat, Mocambo and Peter Hu? also agreed that these dry days would impact the sales to some extent. The owner of Floriana, Waldorf and Magnolia, Charles Mantosh was vocal about the matter. "We would lose almost two weekends following this. This is going to impact us. Considering the fact that poll violence in Kolkata is a thing of the past. It could have been avoided," he added.
The clubs, too, are preparing for the long spells of dry days.
The CEO of Tolly Club, V Ganapathy, said that the club was waiting for the Election Commission directive.
"We have heard about it but we are yet to receive any order. It should come next week," he added.
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