Date:19/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/19/stories/2006011919071400.htm

National

Election Commission warns Bengal officials

J. Venkatesan

Warning sent to Chief Electoral Officer after considering observers' reports

Observers found irregularities in roll revision
Fix responsibility, seek explanation

Provide more venues for public hearings

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday warned that severe disciplinary action would be taken for dereliction of duty by officials vested with the revision of poll rolls in West Bengal, where Assembly elections are due in May/June.

The Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner B.B. Tandon and Commissioner Navin Chawla, sent the warning to the Chief Electoral Officer after considering the reports submitted by 19 observers, including adviser K.J. Rao, who were deputed to the State to review the on-going revision and scrutinise the issue of Elector's Photo Identity Cards.

Work within limits: Karat

Special Correspondent from Kolkata reports:

"The Election Commission should work within its prescribed limits ... if not we will take it up [with the authorities concerned]," Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said.

"I am confident that the people will support us and elections will be held peacefully and in a free and fair manner. Let them [the Election Commission] carry out their investigations," Mr. Karat said.

Last week, veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu stated that allegations from "certain quarters" that there were a large number of "bogus" voters in the rolls were highly exaggerated. He had said that it was the job of the Commission to delete the names of those who might have died or shifted elsewhere.