CPI(M) demands cancellation of polling in 3 Municipalities, Congress demand re-polling
14 May, Kolkata
CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra Sunday demanded cancellation of polling at Raigunj (27 wards), Domkol (21 wards) and Pujali (16 wards) municipalities in West Bengal alleging gross rigging, intimidation of voters, booth capturing by the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Congress leader Deepa Dasmunshi, however, demanded re-polling in all booths of these three municipalities saying the TMC looted votes aided by administration, including police. Seven municipalities -Darjeeling (32 wards), Kurseong (20 wards), Mirik (9 wards) and Kalimpong (23 wards) in the hills and three municipal boards in the plains of North Dinajpur, Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas were having elections, that began at 0700 hours today.
CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra told a media conference that though they demanded for cancellation of polling in three municipalities in the plains, but ” We do not believe that under the present TMC regime, the fair and peaceful polling is possible at all.” ” Therefore we appeal to the people to exercise their constitutional rights in all aspects of life beyond the constituent bodies in choosing the right thing in the society,” Mishra said.
” We believe that under the present government fair election is not possible at all with the present set up of EC. Only people active participation in all aspect of life can restore democracy in West Bengal,” Mishra said.
He said, besides their three party people have been received bullet injuries, score of people, mediamen, police and common voters have come under of the ruling goons. He called upon the people to join in massive number during the Nabanna cholo on May 22 to protest the government anti-people policies.
Congress leader Deepa Dasmunshi toeing same line demanded re-polling in three municipality boards saying ” We are sorry to the voters that we could not help them to vote freely and peacefully. Earlier West Bengal Congress president Adhir Chowdhury instructed the party candidates in Domkal, Murshidabad to withdraw from the polls. “I have instructed all our 10 candidates in Domkal municipal election to withdraw from the fray as the elections have become a farce because of the booth rigging and violence by the TMC,” Chowdhury said.
In the 21-member Domkol municipality, the fight is between the Trinamool Congress and Congress-CPI(M) alliance.