CPI(M) calls for impartiality of poll observers

Kolkata, Apr 7 (UNI) Fighting a battle of attrition with the Election Commission, the CPI(M) today called for an ''impartial'' election in West Bengal and urged the EC observers to be ''fair'' in activities.

Alleging that a section of poll observers was being accompanied by Trinamool Congress leaders, CPI(M) West Bengal State Committee Secretary Biman Bose said the party would also go to the people's court, clarifying the reasons behind ''obstructions'' in the way of free and fair polling in the state.

''We want independent, free, fair and peaceful elections in the state. To ensure that we also want that an absolute impartiality is maintained,'' he told reporters.

Alleging that a Trinamool candidate had ushered in the security force for a raid on the party's zonal office at Keshpur, he said the impartiality of some of the EC representatives was getting scared because of their accompaniment with the Trinamool leaders. '' You must appear to be fair if you want to be fair, '' he said without naming anybody.

Mr Bose, also a Polit Bureau member and Left Front Committee Chairman, alleged that similar raids were carried out at the residences of party members at Lalgarh in Purulia district with the Jharkhand Party leaders being present at the spot.

He also claimed that the names of many ''genuine'' voters had been deleted from the electoral rolls during the process of revision, while there were ''talks'' in East Midnapore district to remove the names of about 1.12 lakh voters. ''How one can determine beforehand that so many names would be dropped,'' he asked.

To a question, Mr Bose said, ''Those connected with the ECI'' were in the district when the proposal for the mass deletion was said to have made.

He also questioned how an FIR was lodged against Transport Minister Subhash Chakraborty before expiry of the deadline set by the EC for a reply to the allegation of his public outburst against poll officials and police.

''We are also filing an FIR with the people against all these things. We are apprising them that it is not our party, which is obstructing a free and fair poll, but some other quarters with vested interests,'' he said.

Mr Bose said his party had sent six letters to the EC recording its protests against certain actions initiated by observers, but no reply had so far been received.

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