CPI(M) urges EC to ensure 'free and fair' poll in WB

Accusing ruling TMC-backed "miscreants" of disrupting West Bengal assembly polls process, CPI(M) today demanded Election Commission to step in to ensure "free and fair" elections in remaining 245 constitutes.
Alleging that the second day of polling, April 11, in West Bengal saw attacks on opposition and intimidation of voters through violence by those backed by TMC, CPI(M) said "what happened is a reflection of the failure" in implementing assurances the EC itself had given to state electorate.
"The CPI(M) is shocked by the manner in which process of free and fair elections has been disrupted and undermined by miscreants backed by ruling TMC on the second day of polling. It urges EC to ensure free and fair poll in the remaining five phases," the party said in a statement.

Meanwhile, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury and central secretariat member Nilotpal Basu also submitted a memorandum to the Commission seeking it took "all possible necessary steps for discharging its Constitution-mandated responsibility of holding free and fair polls".
In the memorandum, Yechury and Basu expressed surprise over Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena reportedly stating that the polling "was normal" and said the same is "completely divorced" from reality.
"What is more disturbing is to legitimise this 'normalcy' by stating that all incidents had taken place outside the polling booths. This is surprising to say the least. This suggests the EC is abdicating its Constitution mandate to ensure the conduct of a free and fair poll," they said.

Events outside polling booths are considered a part of the poll process, when they adversely affect free and fair elections, they said.

"Now, it appears that there is a major reversal of the EC's earlier position," they added.
Yechury and Basu also expressed concern that "such a position" by EC would "completely nullify" the prerequisite for route marches by central police forces for confidence building and area domination as a deterrent to miscreants who are "out to disrupt and usurp" democratic rights of people.
The party also congratulated political activists and people for "determinedly" facing alleged politics of terror and intimidation "unleashed" by TMC.