BJP and CPI(M) delegations on Tuesday urged Election Commission to act strongly against the ruling Trinamool Congress for unleashing terror and misusing State machinery in the second phase of West Bengal polls on April 11. Citing violence in several areas, both parties demanded the EC to conduct re-poll and alleged most of the EC observers were not at all visible in tense areas and falsely declared that the situation was normal.
“Several requests made to the Commission in our earlier meeting have still not been addressed and we request that it be done now and the BJP be apprised of the action taken. We request the Commission to ensure that the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal and officers on election duty fully conform to fair practices and instructions issued by you to ensure free and fair elections and are available to respond to issues,” said the memorandum signed by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav, secretary Sidharth Nath Singh and Om Pathak.
The BJP had requested for flag marches and patrolling in sensitive and extra sensitive constituencies but this is not being conducted despite assurances by the EC, they said.
CPI(M) general secretary Nilotpal Basu criticised Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena for falsely declaring the situation in the State as normal after the second phase.
“We are surprised with the statement and the press conference held by Sandeep Saxena. We had in our communication yesterday and the subsequent meeting brought before you the details of the extremely disturbing events on the second day of polling to West Bengal Assembly elections. The mainstream media has widely reported on the same which corroborates our contention. Therefore, the statement that the polling was normal was completely divorced from the actual reality,” said the left leaders.
“What is more disturbing is to legitimise this ‘normalcy’ by stating that all incidents had taken place outside the polling booths. This is surprising, to say the least. This suggests that the EC is abdicating its Constitution mandate to ensure the conduct of a free and fair poll,” they added.