CEC assures of free and fair Assembly polls in West Bengal

Kolkata: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi on Monday assured all political parties of a free and fair Assembly poll in West Bengal beginning from April 4, even as the opposition parties urged the poll panel to probe a 'sting' operation allegedly involving some leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Opposition CPI(M) leader Rabin Deb said they have requested the poll panel to take action against those TMC leaders, purportedly shown in the 'sting' operation, according to constitutional provision.

He said the CEC assured them to look into the problem. "We also demanded reinstatement of some officials removed by the ruling party ahead of the polls and removal of hoardings in violation of the Model Code of Conduct," he said.

Congress leaders also raised similar demands during their meeting with the poll panel.

The opposition leaders said Zaidi assured them to go through their complaints and suggestions for a fair poll.

Representatives of the ruling Trinamool Congress too met the poll panel with a list of suggestions, which the CEC has also assured to look into.

Simultaneously, Senior TMC leader Mukul Roy lodged complaint against poll panel's declaration of six-phase elections in the state.

"It is virtually a seven-phase election, as the first phase poll will be held in two parts on different dates. Then why this camouflage?" Roy asked the CEC.

"We are ready to face multi-phase elections in the state, but it is an insult to the people of Bengal," he said.

The opposition CPI(M), Congress and BJP lodged various complaints with the poll panel against the ruling TMC, while demanding measures for free and fair poll.

The full bench of the Election Commission led by the CEC arrived here today on a two-day visit to the state to review poll preparedness.

Apart from meeting EC officials of the state and political parties, the poll panel full bench listened to the representatives of 'Save the Democracy Forum' and former West Bengal State Election Commissioner Meera Pande.

While Pande urged the poll panel to ensure free and fair poll to allow people to exercise their franchise without any fear, Save the Democracy Forum representative Justice (Retd) Asok Kumar Ganguly requested the poll panel to see that all FIRs were looked into and steps taken.

The CEC would meet the DMs, SPs, other senior officials in the state and media persons tomorrow.