CPI(M) to ECI : Order Repoll in 800 Booths

CPI(M) Polit Bureau members Sitaram Yechury and S. Ramachandran Pillai, met the Chief Election Commissioner today and expressed their displeasure over the failure of the ECI to respond adequately to the widespread violence and mayhem witnessed during the last phase of polling in West Bengal today. Terming it as “unfortunate”, they said that “the Election Commission and its apparatus” remained “mute spectators watching this mockery of democracy”.  They charged the ECI of remaining a “helpless bystander” and not discharging its Constitutional mandate of conducting  a free and fair election. 

 

The delegation provided information available till 3.00 p.m regarding 465 polling booths in 14 parliamentary constituencies which were rocked by violence, booth capturing, rigging, intimidation of voters and driving out polling agents of parties opposed to the ruling TMC.  Subsequently, reports also came in of around 350 other booths were polling was rigged.

 

The Party has demanded re-polling in over 800 booths with “adequate arrangements for protection of the voters which includes the deployment of central forces, video surveillance of the booths, strict instructions to the concerned officials to take prompt action against those disrupting the conduct of free and fair elections, amongst others.”

 

The full text of the memorandum submitted to the ECI is given below:

 

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May 12, 2014

 

The Chief Election Commissioner

Election Commission of India

Nirvachan Sadan

New Delhi

 

Dear Sir,

 

Please find enclosed the list of polling booths in various parliamentary constituencies that went to polls today in the state of West Bengal.  The polling agents of all opposition parties have been driven out by the ruling party in the state, Trinamool Congress, from all these booths. 

 

The central paramilitary forces  are remaining as mere onlookers while armed Trinamool Congress goons are on a rampage.  So far, 22 CPI(M) workers have been critically injured and are in hospitals.  At least four of these are being treated for bullet injuries.  Fire arms are being freely used without any restriction by the law and order forces in the state. 

 

It is, indeed, unfortunate that the Election Commission and its apparatus are remaining mute spectators watching this mockery of democracy.  Far from discharging its Constitutional mandate of conducting  a free and fair election, the EC apparatus remains a helpless bystander. 

 

We demand an immediate intervention to restore the conduct of a free and fair poll. Since the time for polling is nearing its end, we have no option but to demand the holding of re-polling in all these booths with adequate arrangements for protection of the voters which includes the deployment of central forces, video surveillance of the booths, strict instructions to the concerned officials to take prompt action against those disrupting the conduct of free and fair elections, amongst others. 

 

At least in this last phase of the elections, we expect the EC to take the necessary  steps with decisiveness that has not been forthcoming so far. 

 

Along with this letter we are giving you information regarding 465 polling booths in 14 parliamentary constituencies which we have received till 3 p.m. this afternoon.  The information pouring in subsequently is contained in the attached letters from West Bengal.  Copies of all information contained in this letter and the attachments have been sent to you directly and also given to the CEO and Special Observer, West Bengal.

 

 

 

AITC activists captured booths, threatened CPI(M) supporters and prevented voters to cast their votes in booth Nos. 220, 221 (2 booths).

 

 

AITC supporters threatened voters with weapons like fire arms, bombs, lathis to cast vote in favour of them and driven out CPI(M) polling agents in booth Nos. 26, 27, 28, 29 (4 booths).

 

AITC supporters threatened voters with weapons like fire arms, bombs, lathis to cast vote in favour of them in booth Nos. 220, 221, 242 (3 booths).

 

 

Voters were obstructed and threatened by the AITC in booth Nos. 128, 129 (2 booths).

 

AITC supporters threatened voters with weapons like fire arms, bombs, lathis to cast vote in favour of them and driven out CPI(M) polling agents in booth No. 35 (1 booth).

 

 

AITC supporters threatened voters with weapons like fire arms, bombs, lathis to cast vote in favour of them and driven out CPI(M) polling agents in booth Nos. 53, 54, 61, 73, 74, 75, 76 (7 booths).

 

AITC activists stand in front of EVM and threatened voters to cast their votes in favour of AITC in booth Nos. 74, 75.

 

Voter assaulted grievously by AITC activists in booth No. 29 9 (1 booth).

 

 

AITC supporters threatened voters with weapons like fire arms, bombs, lathis to cast vote in favour of them and driven out CPI(M) polling agents in booth Nos. 110, 113, 117, 118, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 154, 157, 173, 212, 214, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226,  240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249  (37 booths).

 

Voters were obstructed and threatened by the AITC in booth Nos. 54, 55, 59, 60, 62, 63, 69, 116, 121, 122, 139, 145, 146, 147, 156, 157, 172, 174, 175, 268 (20 booths).

 

 

103 Bijpur & 104 Naihati AC: Most of the booths were captured by AITC activists and common voters were not allowed to stand in queue and EVM were fully controlled by the AITC activists, specially in Majhipara.

 

Polling agents and voters of CPI(M) were driven out from booth No. 44. (1 booth)

 

107 Noapara AC: Jammed polling booths and CPI(M) polling agents were driven out from booth Nos, 47, 50 (2 booths).

Booths captured, common voters not allowed to stand in the queue, CPI(M) polling agents were driven out and EVM fully controlled by the AITC workers in polling station Nos. 3, 15, 16, 17 (4 booths)

 

 

 

The following booths were captured by AITC activists: 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 258, 259, 260, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268 (14 booths)

 

 

Polling agents of CPI(M) were forcibly driven out by the AITC activists from booth Nos. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 62, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79 (17 booths).

Presiding officer not allowed CPI(M) polling agents to enter into polling station in booth Nos. 21 and 22 (2 booths).

 

Polling agents of CPI(M) were forcibly driven out by the AITC activists from booth Nos. 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 47, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 79, 80, 81, 82 (36 booths).

 

 

139 Canning (Purba) AC:

AITC activists captured the booths, created violence and beaten Left polling agents and forced to leave the booth Nos. 81, 82, 86, 90, 91, 115, 135, 136, 137, 152, 153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 174, 185, 191, 211, 212, 213, 217, 218, 221, 226, 227, 229, 230, 236, 237, 238 (31 booths).

 

 

131 Kakdwip AC: Polling agents of CPI(M) were forcibly driven out by the AITC activists from booth Nos. 9, 12, 31, 32 (4 booths).

 

TMC activists attacked the voters in booth Nos. 20, 29, 30 (3 booths).

 

False votes were given by AITC activists in booth No. 7, 25, 26, , 46, 54 (5 booths)

 

135 Madirbazaar (SC) AC:  CPI(M) polling agents were driven out and booth Nos. 119, 120, 121 were captured by AITC activists (3 booths).

 

 

The following booths were captured and rigged.  Polling agents were driven out forcefully and prevented from entering booths.  Voters were not allowed to vote. Three of CPI(M) workers were hospitalized.

 

Metiabruj AC:  168, 169 (2 booths)

 

Bishnupur AC: 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140 (34 booths).

 

Falta AC:  208 (1 booth)

 

Diamond Harbour AC: 162, 163, 164 (3 booths)

 

 

146 Pukur Aithi AC: Polling agent of CPI(M) were driven out by AITC activists in booth No. 35 (1 booth).

 

148 AC: Polling agents of CPI(M) and voters were obstructed and assaulted by AITC activists in booth No. 27, 59, 60 (3 booths).

 

 

149 Kasba AC :  Presiding Officers not entertained the CPI(M) polling agents in  booth Nos. 28, 29, 47, 54 (4 booths).

 

 

161 Ballygunge AC: Polling agents of CPI(M) were threatened by AITC activists and as a result no CPI(M) polling agents in booth Nos. 66, 70 (2 booths)

 

MIC of KMC forcefully entered and claimed election agent of AITC in booth Nos 268, 269, 270, 271, 274, 282, 283, 285, 286 (9 booths)

 

 

164 Beleghata AC: CPI(M) polling agents were driven out  and false vote done by AITC activists in the following booths: 133, 159, 160, 164, 165, 166, 167, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 266, 270,  294, 295 (58 booths).

 

166 Shyampukur AC: Difference in numbers in 100 between total votes polled and the number recorded in the EVM.

 

Cossipore-Belgachia AC: Sector in-charge acted impartially. 

 

Beliaghata AC: Polling agents of CPI(M) were forcibly driven out by AITC activists and obstructed the voters to cast their votes in booth No. 34, 35 (2 booths).

 

CPI(M) polling agents not allowed in polling booths and attacked by the AITC activists in booth Nos. 55, 57, 60, 64, 67, 69, 71, 72, 73, 75 (10 booths).

 

 

In the ballot unit of few EVMs, name of a particular candidate is undermarked with green line.

 

 

 

CPI(M) polling agents assaulted and driven out from booth Nos. 229, 230, 232 (3 booths).

 

Booths captured by the AITC activists, voters attacked and driven out and false votes have been given in the EVM in booth Nos. 69, 157, 169, 245, 246, 247 (6 booths)

 

 

Booths captured by the AITC activists, voters attacked and driven out and false votes have been given in the EVM in booth Nos. 184, 190, 191, 199, 209, 211, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 248 (20 booths).

 

CPI(M) polling agents assaulted and driven out from booth No. 184 (1 booth).

 

 

Polling agents of CPI(M) were forcibly driven out by the AITC activists from booth No. 157, 244, 245, 247, 269, 289, 290 (7 booths).

 

Polling agents of CPI(M) prevented from entering into polling booths by the AITC activists in booth Nos. 162, 163, 167, 168, 239, 288, 289, 290, 317 (9 booths).

 

Booths captured by the AITC activists, voters attacked and driven out and false votes have been given in the EVM in booth Nos. 16, 157, 162, 163, 167, 168, 195, 239, 241, 242, 244, 245, 247, 288, 289, 290, 317, (17 booths)

 

 

 

Booths captured by the AITC activists, voters attacked and driven out and false votes have been given in the EVM in booth Nos. 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 27, 33, 35, 36, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 69, 77, 78, 104, 113, 137, 164, 165, 169, 170, 171, 172, 175, 177, 178, 179, 195, 200, 203, 204, 217, 250, 222, 224, 225, 230, 231, 233, 250, 262, 266, 270,  (57 booths).

 

 

Yours sincerely