CPI(M) askes EC to check observers' credentials

Kolkata, Apr 26 (UNI) The CPI(M) today urged the Election Commission to be careful about the credential of observers before sending them to West Bengal following the controversy involving Mr H R Bhimashankar and a comment made by Mr Dugracharan Sahu, both observers for Belgachhia(East) constituency.

Addressing a press conference, party's State Committee Secretary Biman Bose said Mr Bhimashankar was a person chargesheeted by CBI, and though he had been removed as Expenditure Observer for Belgachhia(East) constituency, the EC should ensure that no such person was sent to the state.

''We are happy that Mr Bhimashankar has been called back. But we do not know how many such observers are there...all of them are not angels...my request to the EC is that it should check the credentials of the observers,'' he said.

Mr Basu said the CPI(M) had also lodged a complaint with the EC against Mr Sahu allegedly for his remark on a television channel on the possibility of holding repoll in Belgachhia(East) constituency.

''We have asked the EC how an observer can have such a pre-conceived notion and how he can comment like this on the basis of a hypothetical question even before the polling. Making such utterances is out of the jurisdiction of any observer,'' he said.

Mr Bhimashankar had incurred the wrath of the CPI(M) when he described the Belegachhia(East) constituency as most notorious, from where state Transport Minister Subhash Chakraborty is contesting.

Talking to reporters of a television channel, Mr Bhimashankar also alleged that the constituency had never witnessed free and fair elections.

The CPI(M) immediately lodged protest with the EC, Deputy Election Commissioner Anand Kumar and Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) Debasish Sen and demanded action.

Mr Bose said the EC observer had insulted the people of the constituency and none of his predecessors had ever made such an allegation. '' He described the constituency as notorious despite the fact that he himself is a notorious person having been chargesheeted by CBI, '' Mr Basu said.

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