After meeting chief election commissioner V S Sampath, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury told TOI, "Since the third phase of polling in Bengal, we have been asking the EC to act. It is inexplicable why they haven't acted yet. Now, the ruling Trinamool Congress has resorted to large scale violence before the last phase. Despite the incidents of violence and intimidation are being telecast, it's completely inexplicable why the EC is not taking strong action. Neither they are (EC) offering an answer, nor can we understand the reason for their inaction."
On Sunday, Yechury handed CEC a letter describing the pre-poll violence in Kolkata and other constituencies. Besides party candidates like Tapas Sinha of Kanthi constituency and other party leaders in Kolkata and surroundings being victims of violence, the CPM alleged poling agents of the Left and other opposition parties in Bengal were being warned against going to poll booths on Monday.
"Since this morning (May 11, 2014) Bengali television channels are continuously showing such incidents of violence across constituencies that go to polls tomorrow. Intimidation, threats and outright assaults are being reported from all across the state. In such an atmosphere of widespread terror and intimidation, no free and fair polls can take place," the CPM said.
The party demanded appointment of special observers or other officers to ensure law and order is maintained and people are allowed to vote fearlessly. "This is essential given that the state administration apparatus appears to be highly compromised in favour of the ruling party," said the CPM in its letter.
Amid allegations about non-deployment of central forces in troubled and sensitive areas, the CPM urged the EC to ensure central forces conduct route marches in all constituencies "to instill a sense of confidence amongst the people that they shall be protected while they exercise their franchise in a fearless, free and fair manner".
The party also demanded listed history-sheeters be taken into preventive custody immediately to prevent them from "intimidating and threatening voters and polling officials".
Besides, the CPM pointed out to the EC that out of over 40,000 state government employees involved in election duty, only 12,000 were issued postal ballot and election duty certificate. About, 8,300 health department employees engaged in poll duty have also not been issued postal ballot and election duty certificate, the CPM alleged.
"We request that this anomaly be immediately corrected and the personnel deputed to discharge election duties are not deprived of their democratic right to vote," the party said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment