Poll panel assures minimum facilities to voters

The Election Commission (EC) on Friday assured that voters in West Bengal would be provided miminum facilities like drinking water, signages, electricity, adequate furniture, medical kits, help desks and toilets during the seven-phase upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu said that accessibility observers had been appointed to oversee the efficient and effective implementation of all instructions of the EC at the field level.

Replying to a query, he said that performing artists like actors who would contest the polls cannot use their creations for campaigning purposes.

Asked about the reply given by Union Minister Babul Supriyo on the showcause served on him by the Commission, he said that matter was under consideration.

The EC had on March 19 issued a show-cause notice to Babul Supriyo for putting out a campaign song, composed and sung by him, without prior permission.

Basu told reporters that the Commission had received 1426 complaints through the app cVIGIL and action had been taken against 882 of them.

On seizures ahead of the polls, he said so far 98 arms, 295 pieces of ammunition and 61 bombs had been seized.

Basu said that 2087 litres of illicit liquor, 356 litres of country spirit and cash worth Rs 71 lakh had been seized.

He said that four nominations had been received for Alipurduar (ST) constituency, four for Jalpaiguri (SC) and two for Darjeeling.