‘Governor to meet officers, SEC on poll violence’

Kolkata/Berhampore: Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has called West Bengal state election commissioner A.K. Singh, state chief secretary Malay De and home secretary Atri Bhattacharya for a meeting in wake of the allegations of series of attacks by the Trinamul Congress workers on the BJP candidates during their filing of nomination papers across the districts for the panchayat elections. This was claimed by state BJP state president Dilip Ghosh after meeting Mr Tripathi at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. 

Leading a delegation Mr Ghosh complained to the governor about the atrocities by the ruling party activists in the districts.

Training guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party and Mr Tripathi Trinamull secretary general Partha Chatterjee raised questions on the governor’s impartiality. He claimed that the rural polls would be held peacefully.

Mr Ghosh said, “The governor has called the chief secretary and home secretary. He has also called the state election commissioner on Wednesday. He will ask them to ensure peace during the filing of nominations and elections. The state election commissioner also sought an appointment from him. We appealed to the governor to tell him that it is his responsibility to conduct the elections peacefully.”

He added, “We told the governor: You, being the constitutional head, can exercise your rights. The state election commission repeatedly sought for the central para-military forces but the state government does not want it. We have faith on the state election commission and in the Governor. Discussions will be held on Wednesday. Some way-outs will be there definitely.”

Asserting that the BJP candidates would file their nominations according to the party’s preparations Mr Ghosh argued, “But it is sure that the panchayat polls will be a bloody one.” 

Countering the BJP Mr Chatterjee alleged, “The Governor once again proved that the people of this state can not treat him as impartial when a BJP delegation met him and the state BJP president later declared outside that the Governor has called them.”

He added, “According to Mr Ghosh, the governor has sought for the central forces. I have never heard of it. Although this comment was not made by the governor, the governor should protest it. What he wants is very secret which should not come to the public. Moreover it is not purview of the BJP to know that the Governor will call the home secretary or the state election commissioner.”

Lashing out at Mr Ghosh for warning of a counter-attack to the ruling party’s assault, Mr Chatterjee claimed, “Empty pitcher makes the noise more. The way a political party’s state president has declared that they have also started hitting out, it means they do not trust in democracy anymore. The polls will be peaceful.”