E.C. asks W. Bengal to ensure peaceful poll

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 24. The Election Commission has directed the West Bengal Government to ensure free and fair by-election to the Panskura Lok Sabha constituency, scheduled for June 5.

The Chief Election Commissioner, Dr. M.S. Gill, told presspersons here that the Commission had taken note of allegations of possible irregularities and asked the State Chief Electoral Officer to take steps to ensure a peaceful poll.

Earlier the AICC General Secretary, Mr. Oscar Fernandes, called on the Chief Election Commissioner and expressed grave concern over the ``law-and-order situation'' in the State and urged him to ensure a free and fair by-election. A meeting of the Commission on Tuesday reviewed the arrangements for the by- election to the Assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat and also the progress of issuance of photo- identity cards in the States where assembly elections are due early next year.

The Commission wants to explore the possibility of repeating its experiment in Haryana at the time of Assembly elections in February this year. The Commission had made it mandatory for the voters to carry their identity cards to be eligible to vote.

Responding to apprehensions of irregularities in the West Bengal bye-election, Dr. Gill said that ``we do not want West Bengal to get away with the idea that violence pays. Police should act firmly (with trouble makers).''

He said the by-election to Panskura should set an example for the Assembly elections. Keshpur Assembly segment in the Panskura Lok Sabha constituency had recently witnessed clashes between supporters of rival political parties claiming several lives.

The Commission on Tuesday asked the State's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Mr. Sabyasachi Sen, to submit immediately a report on inquiry into the alleged violation of model codes by Trinamool Congress chief, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, while giving speeches at Keshpur on May 14.

Dr. Gill said the Commission would cover as many constituencies as possible with electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Pondicherry and Assam next year.

The Commission has decided to despatch additional poll observers to high-profile Assembly constituencies of Raghopur (Bihar), Rori (Haryana) and also Soran (Uttar Pradesh) going to polls on Friday. While the Bihar Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi, is contesting from Raghopur, Mr. Abhey Chautala, son of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala, is making his debut in the State politics from the Rori seat.

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