Yechury faults EC for not taking WB's views on poll schedule

Bangalore, Mar 4 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today said the Election Commission (EC) should have taken the views of parties in West Bengal as it had done in the case of Tamil Nadu before announcing the state's poll schedule.

Addressing a press conference here, CPI(M) Polit Bureau Sitaram Yechury alleged that the EC had behaved in an unfair manner by not taking the views of parties in West Bengal.

Taking exception to the EC making a hue and cry over the deletion of over ten lakh bogus names from the electoral list in the state.

Mr Yechury said it was a Constitutional authority and it could have deleted the bogus names long back itself, instead of making noises over it now.

Maintaining that the Left Front in West Bengal enjoyed the support of over 51 per cent of the electorate, he exuded confidence that the party would be voted back to power again.

To a question, Mr Yechury clarified that the Left parties were not working towards formation of a third front, but striving to find a third alternative.

Referring to the formation of a new government in Karnataka, he called the JD(S) as opportunistic for joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party to assume power.

UNI MV RG MA RS1825