WBSEC initiates strong measures on lapses in KMC poll

The West Bengal State Election Commission today issued show-cause notices to two presiding officers and two observers for irregularities in the election to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation five days ago.
"Show-cause notices have been issued against two presiding officers of booth number 26 under Ward number 65 and booth number 32 of Ward number 134 asking them as to why they failed to report incidents of alleged electoral malpractices properly," State Election Commissioner S R Upadhyay told reporters.
Upadhyay said that show-cause notices were also issued against two observers, asking them why their report did not have any mention of electoral malpractices which they had informed to the State Election Commission over phone," Upadhyay said.

In all these cases replies have been sought within 48 hours, Upadhyay said adding the Municipal Returning Officer had also been asked to report as why video cameras were kept inoperative in a number of booths.
Stating that a total 1,400 presiding officers failed to submit updates on polling to the Commission, Upadhyay asked the Municipal Returning Officer about the reason of failure on the part of those presiding officers.
Regarding a complaint of booth-capturing under Ward number 32 by CPI(M) candidate Rupa Bagchi, Upadhyay said that the Municipal Returning Officer was asked to report by tomorrow about the allegation.

Bagchi alleged that in a particular booth the number of male votes polled were more than those listed in the voters' list. "Over 104 per cent of polling of male votes is a clear example of booth-capturing," Bagchi said.

Asked about the injury to a sub-inspector in firing in north Kolkata, Upadhyay said he had received a report on the incident yesterday from the city police commissioner.
It was a clash between two groups with lathis and arms, during which someone fired from his revolver which injured the SI. Six persons were arrested in the incident, the report said, according to the SEC.

The West Bengal Governor, K N Tripathi, had yesterday summoned Upadhyay and asked him to see that next Saturday's civic poll was peaceful.
After his meeting with Tripathi, the SEC stated that he had briefed the Governor about the force deployment plan and other steps that the commission was going to take for holding the civic polls peacefully, besides some issues on April 18 civic polls to the KMC.