Advance mapping for free, fair election

The Election Commission in West Bengal is planning an advanced vulnerability assessment and mapping of all the catchment areas, where voters might face possible intervention at the booth level, covering the 52,000 booths across the state, in a bid to ensure a free and fair election process.

Addressing a press conference at the inauguration of National Election Watch, West Bengal chapter, Debashish Sen, chief electoral officer, West Bengal said, “In a bid to ensure free and impartial election, the state election commission planned to do an advance vulnerability assessment mapping, a micro assessment at the booth level covering all 52,000 booths, which will identify the catchment area where voters might face the risk of intervention.”

Chatradhar Mahato, convener of the Police Santrash Birodhi Public Committee (PSBPC) in Lalgarh has threatened that there would be armed mass resistance, if police entered tribal areas.

Sen, on being asked about EC's approach to the Lalgarh said, “In a bid to ensure free, peaceful, impartial election, we have an alternative strategy. We are ready to sit in discussion with all stakeholders if need be.” Sen met the home secretary today.

This apart, Sen also re-emphasised on the stringent norms that has been laid for filing nominations this year, which will help raise social accountability of the candidates.

“Under the law, nominations cannot be cancelled, unless there are some errors in the spelling of names, but this time the affidavits which are to be filled in by the nominated candidates, which includes their asset declaration and criminal records will have to be filed by way of and not written by hand with no blank space. If any of the criterion is not met, then the candidate will be asked to refill it.” said Sen.

Till date, around 67 nominations have been filed in West Bengal, the highest came from Raiganj and Midnapore constituencies, seven each.