GMP urges CEC to defer first phase of election

Kolkata, Mar 8 (UNI) The Ganamukti Parishad(GMP), a forum formed by the intellectuals, today urged the Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) to defer the first phase of polls and include it in the last phase which would be held on May 8.

Talking to newspersons GMP President Sunanda Sanyal told newspersons that as soon as the Central forces contingents move out to other districts for election duties, the Maoists may launch largescale violence in Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts where the state police would be no match to deal with such incidents.

" We expect that the CPI(M)-led Left Front government would surely use such a situation to make a strong case for continued deployment of the Central forces in those districts and may not release the forces for deployment in election duties elsewhere in the state in subsequent phases," he said.

" We urge the Election Commission to consider rescheduling the dates of polling in the above three districts and hold it with the last phase which would begin on May 8." " We are congratulating the CEC for taking several steps to hold free and fair polls in the state and for deploying 60,000 Central Paramilitary forces for holding the first phase of election in 45 constituencies of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts to prevent any disturbances by the Maoist groups," he said.

Mr Sanyal pointed out that the first phase of election in the North Bengal districts would be held on April 17 and since these districts are close to the Assam and North-East India, paramilitary forces deployed for Assam elections on April 10 could be conveniently moved to the North Bengal districts.

He said a letter has already been sent to CEC B B Tanon and Chief Electoral Officer Debashis Sen in this regard.

"We are also urging all the opposition political parties to be united in the coming assembly election otherwise there would be no change in the results." UNI AKM KK/src1939