Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Monday said that the poll body will leave no stone unturned to conduct “free, fair, and transparent” assembly election in West Bengal. CEC Kumar made this statement during an interaction with the polling officers involved in the election management emphasising on conducting “violence-free” and “intimidation-free” election in the state, PTI reported. Bengal will vote in two phases – first round on April 23, and second on April 29. The votes will be counted on May 4. There are a total of 294 seats in the state.
The polling officials also reiterated CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s objectives of managing “inducement-free” and “booth jamming- free” polling.
They further said that no officials of the state government, including those of local bodies or autonomous bodies, will be allowed to influence the electoral process.
TMC Accuses EC of Playing in Hands of BJP
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in the state, meanwhile, has accused the election body of playing into the hands of the BJP, however, the election commission has dismissed all these allegations.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party TMC had been at loggerheads with the election commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being conducted in the state to update the electoral roll. The TMC has accused the poll body of deliberately disenfranchising voters to the benefit of the BJP. Both the EC and the BJP have rejected the charge while dubbing it as baseless.
Oppn Plans To Move Fresh Notice Seeking Removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Undeterred by the rejection of their earlier notices, opposition parties are planning a fresh move to seek the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, PTI quoted sources saying on Saturday.
According to highly placed sources, leaders from several opposition parties are in talks, and at least five senior MPs from different parties — including the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the DMK — are working on drafting a new notice to initiate removal proceedings.
It has, however, not yet been decided which House the notice would be moved in, or whether it would be introduced in both Houses as was done last time, the source added.
With inputs from PTI
