CPI(M) demands action against observer for Keshpur raid

Kolkata, Apr 6 (UNI) Terming as ''blatantly illegal'' the raid on the party office at Keshpur in West Bengal, the CPI(M) today urged the Chief Election Commissioner to take action against observer Manmohan Singha rpt Manmohan Singha allegedly for misuse of power.

Forwarding a memorandum of CPI(M) West Bengal State Committee, the party's Central Committee member Nilotpal Basu alleged the raid was conducted at the ''instance of the Trinamool Congress'' and the coutcome of it was a pointer to an intention of maligning the party and terrorising its workers and supporters.

The letter came a day after the CPI(M) staged agitations throughout West Bengal in protest against the raid on the party's zonal office in Midnapore district the previous night.

Questioning whether the observer had any executive power to order such a raid, Mr Basu said the action did not produce a single objectionable item. This was ''another instance of blatant and illegal misuse of its power by the concerned observer.'' '' This substantiates the point that we had made about the conduct of some of the observers for the West Bengal Assembly elections,'' the letter said reminding that the EC had not so far issued any clarification on the party's earlier complaints against EC observers Deepak Prasad, R N Dash and Lingaraj Ranigrahi.

'' In the present case, the illegality of the action initiated by the observer is established prima facie. Therefore, we urge you to initiate immediate action against the observer concerned for Keshpur Assembly constituency and keep us informed about your action,'' it said.

The CPI(M) top brass had met CEC B B Tandon on April three to lodge complaints against few observers for their certain actions which, however, the EC termed as not prompted by any ''malafide''.

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