Trinamool using 'crime and terror' in polls: BJP to EC

New Delhi, April 12: Alleging use of "crime and terror" by the ruling Trinamool Congress in the first two phases of West Bengal polls, BJP today asked the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls in the coming phases, claiming its similar requests earlier have not been addressed.

A BJP delegation today met top Election Commission officials here and submitted a memorandum in which they also said most of the observers are "neither visible nor available and are completely incommunicado".

"Several requests made to the Commission in our earlier meeting have still not been addressed and we request that it be done now and the BJP be apprised of the action taken.

"We request the Commission to ensure that the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal and officers on election duty fully conform to fair practices and instructions issued by you to ensure free and fair elections and are available to respond to issues," the memorandum signed by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, party general secretary Bhupender Yadav, secretary Sidharth Nath Singh and Om Pathak said.

Citing local media reports, they alleged it bear "ample testimony to the corrupt and criminal practices" deployed by the state government . These incidents are just a sample of widespread malaise of crime and terror, apprehended earlier and manifest now in full abundance in the first two phases of poll, they added.

The party had requested for flag marches and patrolling in sensitive and extra sensitive constituencies but this is not being conducted despite assurances by the Commission, they said. "Despite detailed rules and procedures prescribed by the Commission, the widespread incidents of bogus voting after the formal closure of voting continue unabated," they told the Commission.

"We request the Commission to order effective steps to stop use of muscle power and take effective steps to create an atmosphere of free and fair elections," they said, seeking deployment of central forces and making observers and micro- observers visible on ground.

PTI