EC team in WB to balance Left criticism: CPI

Kolkata, Feb 12 (PTI) Election Commission observers haverevisited the poll-bound West Bengal in an "attempt tobalance" the criticism made against it by Left partiesfollowing its first visit to Trinamool-dominated areas in thestate, CPI(M) today said.

"No idea as to why the EC observers'' team has come hereagain. Certainly the state government has not invited it torevisit the state. The EC team has come of its own," CPI(M)politburo member and party''s state secretary Biman Bose toldreporters here.

Bose said the EC observers'' team faced criticism duringits first visit "when we (Left parties) called itunprecedented as election dates have not yet been announced."

"They had gone to selected areas under Trinamool Congressdominance and did not care to visit those areas where CPI(M)workers are being tortured at the hands of Trinamool workersearlier," Bose said.

According to the CPI(M) leader, this time the EC team''svisit is aimed at "balancing the criticism and its lapse."

Meanwhile, CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress workers exchangedblows at a Block Development office during the visit of ECobservers'' team at Haldia in East Midnapore district.

Police said the workers of the two parties came to blowsas EC observers were talking to political partyrepresentatives while CPI(M) leader Lakshman Seth was presentthere with a memorandum to be submitted to the EC team.

Police separated the warring groups and the EC team leftthe spot.

Another team of EC observers visited Amta in Howrahdistrict during the day, reports said.