TWO letters were submitted to the Election Commission on May 2, 2016 by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) with regard to various concerns about the assembly elections in West Bengal.

The letters noted that there has been widespread appreciation both among the people and among the media for the manner in which the polls were conducted in the fifth phase on April 30. This is, however, despite some problems in few ACs like Behala (East) and Canning (East). But the post-poll violence continues unabated, even leading to fatalities. A most obnoxious feature of the post-poll violence is that even children of the families are not being spared as the elders have gone to polling booths and exercised their franchise, despite the threats by the miscreants of the ruling party. The earlier pattern of violence directed at opposition polling agents also continues.

The letters suggested that abrupt withdrawal of the CAPF on the completion of the polling is being utilised by these miscreants; therefore, some post-poll security management planning also needs to be undertaken. Since the interregnum between the final phase of polling and the counting of votes is almost two weeks, special measures need to be planned and implemented.

Regarding the polls to be held in East Midnapur district on May 5, some suggestions were made, including certain specific details about police officials who continue to take a partisan attitude in favouring the ruling party, vulnerable booths and name of criminal miscreants with past records, constituency-wise were given. Details about the activities of the TMC which are contrary to and violative of the existing directions of the ECI, were also included.

The following steps necessary for ensuring free and fair polls in the district were suggested.

1.      Section 144 should be strictly and properly executed in the ensuing poll in the two districts of Coochbehar and Purba Medinipur.

2.      Unlawful gathering by motorcycle borne political musclemen in the roads and by-lanes beyond 200 meters of booths in attempt to intimidate voters should be foiled. In previous phases it is to be noted that though the EC has tried its level best to foil those activities but the local olice authorities have failed to execute the EC order in many cases.

3.      Unlawful gathering in booth camps and surrounding places should be restricted.

4.      Patrolling and route march of central forces to build up confidence level of common voters in all sensitive areas immediately should have to be ensured.

5.      There are some serious possibilities of intrusion of outsiders well in advance in the aforesaid two districts with the intention to manipulate the entire vote. So all the hotels, tourist lodges, marriage houses, clubs, under-construction-buildings and slum areas should be kept under serious vigil. The identity of the boarders should be checked properly.

6.      Intimidating voters by snatching their EPICs 48 hours before the poll day in many places by the political goons patronised by the TMC is one of our unfortunate experiences in most of the previous phases of polling. So a serious intervention is required from the top level of the EC. EPICs and EC supplied photo voters slip should be checked properly.

7.      Purba Medinipur has both coastal, riverine and land borders both inter-state and inter-district. This must be effectively sealed like in the earlier phases.

The letter also included an exhaustive list of the constituencies of Coochbehar district which goes to polls on May 5 along with vulnerable booths and miscreants who might cause trouble. In this district as well border sealing, flag march and night vigil for confidence building among the voters is of paramount significance. Of the constituencies 269 Mathabhanga (SC) A/c has a border with Alipurdwar, 299 Sitalkuchi (SC) A/c has borders with Bangladesh and 252 Tufanganj (SC) has borders with Assam.