EC Observer earns Karat's ire

New Delhi, Apr 26 (UNI) Election Commission (EC) Observer Bhimashankar has earned the ire of CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat for allegedly describing Belgachia East as the ''most notorious'' constituency in West Bengal.

Mr Karat today shot off a letter to Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon asking him to strip the EC Expenditure Observer off his responsibilities.

The letter says Mr Bhimashankar told a news conference yesterday that the Assembly constituency had never witnessed free and fair elections.

The state committee of the CPI (M) has already complained about the EC Observer.

The Belgachia East constituency goes to polls in the third phase of polling in the state tomorrow.

''Such remarks broadcast through the media will vitiate the atmosphere and is a blatant attempt to influence public opinion in the constituency,'' Mr Karat writes in the letter, copies of which were released to the media today.

The CPI (M), which had criticised the EC for the five-phase polls in West Bengal, ban on graffiti and deployment of central para military forces inside polling booths, has also sought action against Mr Bhimashankar.

UNI FZ RA VC1840