[Marxistindia] Memorandum to ECI

[news from the cpi(m)]

April 11, 2016

 

Press Release

 

Shri Nilotpal Basu, Central Secretariat member of Communist Party of India
(Marxist) met the Chief Election Commissioner today and submitted the
following memorandum regarding the violence and irregularities in some
Assembly Constituencies where polling was held today in West Bengal.  We are
herewith releasing the text of the memorandum.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

We are pained to have experienced what the voters of West Bengal suffered in
course of elections to 31 Assembly Constituencies which went to polls for
West Bengal Assembly.  There have been widespread  intimidation of voters,
violence, obstructing voters from going to the polling booths, mounting
attacks on opposition polling agents.  Even the leader of the opposition of
the current Assembly and Secretary of the CPI(M) West Bengal State
Committee, Dr. Suryakanta Mishra was hackled in his Assembly Constituency
Narayangarh.  Most of the mainstream media, both electronic and print, have
come out with graphic  coverage of these extremely unseemly spectacle.  

 

One of the major reasons that these disturbances could take place is
inactivity and deliberate misuse of central forces. Despite repeated
assurance from ECI, central forces were not used for area domination before
the polling day and were virtually kept idle during the polling. It is
unfortunate that there reports that central forces failed to intervene even
when violence and attacks occurred in their presence. 

 

However, what was most unacceptable was the attitude of the officials
manning the electoral machinery. Despite repeated complaints, they were not
responding; often switching off their mobile phones.  There have been few
instances where even central observers would not be contacted.  But the most
monumental lapse was on the question of deployment and disability of Central
Forces for building confidence of the voters so that they could exercise
their franchise in a free and fair manner.  This is notwithstanding the
consistent position of the ECI that there will be adequate deployment  and
no  miscreant  will be able to disrupt the free and fair polls.  

 

In Paschim Midnapore, the role of observers was surprising particularly in
Keshpur, Garbeta, Chandrakona, Dantan. They were unavailable in mobiles, or
failed to respond to calls. Sector officers were brushed away complaints
with a predetermined answer that 'no such incident took place'. 

 

Paschim Midnapore

Widespread violence and booth capturing took place in 235-KeshpurAC. AITC
created an atmosphere of terror in villages for last two-three days. This
was reported to CEO office but no intervention was witnessed. Today
(11.4.2016) CPI(M)polling  agents were not allowed to seat in 110 booths
from the beginning. They were forcefully evicted from most of the others
after few hours. Bike-borne AITC gangs roamed freely and attacked CPI(M)
polling agents, threatened voters, restrained villagers from coming to
booths. More than 146 booths were fully captured till 13-30 PM, the list of
which has been already sent to your office. There was no semblance of free
and fair elections in the entire constituency. 

 

In 232- Chandrakona AC, AITC gangs brought criminals from outside and
threatened and chased away voters in nearly 60 booths. They have attacked
CPI(M) polling agents, injuring some of them. Large areas of the
constituency were terrorized and voters could not proceed to polling booths
at all. 

 

In 233- Garbeta AC, AITC created terror to restrain CPI(M) polling agents to
reach to booths. In 109 booths, opposition polling agents were not allowed
to enter at all. Series of booths were captured and villagers were forced to
stay indoors. 

 

In 228-Kharagpur AC, CPI(M) candidate Sajahan Ali was repeatedly cordoned by
AITC activists, wherever he went. Ali was forced to sit back in CPI(M)
office. 

 

In 227 Pingla AC, at least 14 booths were captured by AITC gangs. 

 

In 231 Ghatal AC, outsiders were mobilized by AITC, mainly in villages in
Hooghly border. They created terror in 34 booths in border areas. Booth no
9,10,11, 12 were badly affected. 

 

Reports of violence and attack on voters have come from226- Sabang AC, 225-
Narayangarh AC, 223-Keshiary AC. There is considerable apprehension that
AITC will try to disturb many booths in last few hours of polling. 

 

Bankura 

Nearly 30 booths in 258- Sonamukhi (SC) AC  and 20 booths in 257-Indas (SC)
AC were either captured or disturbed by AITC activists. Villagers were
restrained from approaching booths. CPI(M) polling agents were threatened
and attacked in some areas. 

 

Burdwan 

In 275 Pandaveswar AC, at least 10 booths were disturbed. AITC gangs
threatened voters. In 283 Barabani AC, outsiders were mobilized and
restrained voters in some places. In 289 JamuriaAC, CPI(M) candidate
Jahanara Khan was threatened by AITC.  In 276 Durgapur Purba, normal voting
process was disturbed after 12 PM in 15 booths, the list has been sent to
your office.  

 

We are also appending a gist of  incidents which took place Assembly
constituencywise and boothwise in a tabular form (Annexure I).  

 

We are also appending all the complaints received from our different Party
committees for your perusal and necessary action (Annexure II).  Each of
these are self contained and self explanatory.  We want justice for the
people and we want remedial action for incidents which had undermined the
right to exercise their voting rights without fear or intimidation.  Not to
speak of, where actual booth capturing has taken place.  We will definitely
furnish a comprehensive list of the booths  where a re-poll is warranted
once the polling is closed.

 

 

          With regards,

 

Yours sincerely

Sd/-

(Nilotpal Basu)

Member, Central Secretariat

 

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