Bengal poll panel chief favouring Trinamool: Somen Mitra

Alleging that the Trinamool Congress was employing terror tactics and vitiating the poll atmosphere, veteran Congress leader Somen Mitra Friday accused West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of being "non-performing" and "biased towards the ruling party".

"The fascist face of the Trinamool is out and it is out to establish a reign of terror in West Bengal. While the administration remains a mute spectator, the person responsible for ensuring free and fair polls (CEO), is non-performing," Mitra told mediapersons here.

"Despite our repeated complaints, that too with pictorial evidence of the Trinamool's terror tactics, the CEO has preferred not to act. Either he is compelled or he is intentionally doing so. If the CEO continues to be biased in favour of the Trinamool, the polls will become a farce," he said.

Mitra said a party delegation will meet Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath who will be visiting the state Saturday to apprise him about the situation in Bengal.

"It's not only the political rivals, but the Trinamool is not even sparing Election Commission (EC) officials. From assaulting a BDO in Habra (North 24 Parganas) to attacking an MCC team in Howrah, they are resorting to all means to ensure the polls are not free and fair," said Mitra.

The former parliamentarian, though did not elaborate if the delegation meeting Sampath will seek the CEO's removal.

"The decision rests with the EC. If it thinks he (CEO) is not fit, he may be removed. We have nothing to say about that," said Mitra.

Ridiculing BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Mitra - who earlier in the year quit Trinamool to rejoin the Congress - also accused his former party of being open to a post-poll alliance with the saffron party.

"The Trinamool chief (Mamata Banerjee) says she believes in post-paid and not pre-paid. What does that mean? It's amply clear that the Trinamool is keeping its option open for the BJP. There are something, you need not say expressly," added Mitra.