Bengal panchayat polls: Governor advises SEC to maintain neutrality of chair

Kolkata: West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Sunday advised State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rajiva Sinha to maintain neutrality of his chair, Raj Bhavan sources said.

The Governor and the State Election Commissioner had a two-hour meeting at Raj Bhavan, during which Bose reportedly reminded Sinha why neutrality is necessary for ensuring free and fair panchayat polls scheduled on July 8.

It is learnt that the Governor also advised the SEC to take action against those trying to create tension and violence in the state irrespective of their political allegiance.

The Governor also advised the SEC to take prompt action on any complaint of malpractice, Raj Bhavan sources said.

“The Governor also instructed the SEC to be prompt in sending any report that the Raj Bhavan secretariat seeks in the matter,” said an official aware of the contents of the meeting.

It is learnt that the SEC assured the Governor of effective deployment of central forces for the panchayat polls as they arrive in phases.

He also told the Governor that it will be ensured that there is central forces deployment in all the polling stations of the state.

Earlier too the Governor had summoned the SEC. However, the SEC had then expressed his inability to appear at the Governor’s House. Soon after that, the Governor refused to accept his joining letter and returned it back to the state secretariat.

So far, 10 people have died in poll-related violence since in the announcement of poll date on June 8. The panchayat polls are scheduled on July 8 and the counting will taken up on July 11.

IANS