CPI says EC creating confusion in West Bengal

New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) today shot off a letter to Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon accusing the EC of creating confusion and insulting voters' intelligence during the polls in West Bengal.

According to the party, the polling officials caused ''confusion'' in Indpur assembly seat in Bankura district by threatening to probe complaints though polling was peaceful and there was no complaint.

The state electoral department gave the opinion that it would review polling in booths that recorded more than 80 per cent voting, wrote Amarjeet Kaur, secretary of the party's national council.

The CPI had won the Indpur seat in the last assembly elections.

Repolling is conducted when there is violence, obstruction to voters or complaints are lodged about irregularities, said Ms Kaur.

When the polling was peaceful and there were no complaints of violence or irregularities, how could the Election Commission become worried about why the people have voted more than the average figures in the state? she asked.

''Is there a bar on the voters by any law they should note vote more than 80 per cent in their area? The people voting in large numbers is a sign of progressing democracy and raised political awareness among voters,'' she added.

While the EC claims to ensure peaceful and fearless voting, its response to the enthusiasm of the people does not reflect as impartial, Ms Kaur wrote.

''We would request you to please direct the state Election Commission not to create unnecessary confusion and not to insult the voters' intelligence,'' she said.

UNI FZ VD KP 1825