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it was not available, the RO cancelled the meeting and in a written direction informed that the earlier Memo has been rescinded .Both the first Memo calling for the meeting and the second Memo rescinding the first Memo are enclosed for your quick reference.”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.