CPI-M Calls For Repolling in WB’s Diamond Harbour PC

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has called for repolling in the entire Diamond Harbour Constituency close to South Kolkata metropolis alleging unprecedented violence and irregularities. Polling  for the Lok Sabha Constituency represented by Abhishek  Banerjee, TMC  supremo  and WB  Chief Minister  Mamata Banerjee’s  nephew,  was held on  May 19  amidst poll related  violence  and denial of  exercising  the right  to franchise  by a large number of  enlisted  voters.In a letter to Chief  Election Commissioner Sunil Arorara, Yechury  says “I am writing to you with regard to the reports of large-scale irregularities  in the poll conducted on May 19 in 21-Diamond Harbour Parliamentary Constituency in West Bengal.  Enclosed (Annexure – 1) is a letter submitted by the CPI(M) candidate  for the constituency Dr. Fuad Halim to the Returning Officer, 21 Diamond Harbour PC, which  details the large-scale rigging that was indulged in. The scale of irregularities are such  that the Election Commission of India, true to the spirit of Article 324 of the Constitution which was invoked by the ECI earlier  for preponing the beginning of the silence period, the ECI must ensure “free and fair” elections by ordering a re-polling in the entire constituency. Further, a highly irregular incident occurred on May 20, 2019.  The Returning Officer of 21-Diamond Harbour PC, through a Memo No. 129(10)/1(8)/RO-21PC/2019 convened a meeting for scrutiny of those polling booths whose scrutiny was not taken up earlier.  When Dr. Fuad Halim himself went to attend the meeting, he was informed that some participants objected and hence the meeting has been cancelled.  Since the meeting was convened through a written Memo, a similar written direction cancelling the meeting was demanded.  In the latter, there is a mention that the general observer present asked for written directions of the Chief Electoral Officer and, strangely, since it was not available, the RO cancelled the meeting and in a written direction informed that the earlier Memo has been rescinded .Both the first Memo calling for the meeting and the second Memo rescinding the first Memo are enclosed for your quick reference.”  It has been learnt that the objections to the holding of such a meeting came from both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.  Strangely, the Central leadership of the BJP has approached ECI and petitioned that there should be a re-polling in the entire 21-Diamond Harbour PC.” It is clear that the state unit of the BJP has entered into an understanding with the TMC for latter’s support for its candidates in certain other constituencies like Mathurapur, Jadavpur etc, in return for the BJP’s support to the TMC candidate for Diamond Harbour PC”  Yechury added.