The CPI(M) on Monday urged the Election Commission to take action against the misuse of State machinery by the TMC Government and inaction of the Central forces. Submitting a memorandum detailing various incidents of violence across the State, CPI(M) central committee member Niloptpal Basu said areas like Pachim Midnapore, Bankura and Burdwan witnessed the collapse of law and order orchestrated by the TMC Government and re-poll was needed in such areas.
“One of the major reasons that these disturbances could take place is inactivity and deliberate misuse of Central forces. Despite repeated assurance from ECI, Central forces were not used for area domination before the polling day and were virtually kept idle during the polling. It is unfortunate that Central forces failed to intervene even when violence and attacks occurred in their presence,” said the memorandum submitted by CPI(M) leaders’ delegation led by Basu.
“However, what was most unacceptable was the attitude of the officials manning the electoral machinery. Despite repeated complaints, they were not responding; often switching off their mobile phones. There have been few instances where even central observers would not be contacted. But the most monumental lapse was on the question of deployment and disability of Central Forces for building confidence of the voters so that they could exercise their franchise in a free and fair manner. This is notwithstanding the consistent position of the ECI that there will be adequate deployment and no miscreant will be able to disrupt the free and fair polls,” it added.