Thursday,
May 15, 2014
The
CPI(M) has demanded that the Election Commission of India take “necessary
measures and make proper preparations to ensure that the democratic verdict of
the people is not manipulated further at the stage of the counting of votes” in
West Bengal. In a letter addressed to the Commission by Polit Bureau Member,
Sitaram Yechury, the Party has suggested among other things provision of
adequate security for the counting agents of all parties. The Party has expressed the apprehension that
the widespread violence and intimidation witnessed during the last phase of
polling in West Bengal will find reflection during the counting process also.
The full text of the letter is given below:
May
15, 2014
The Chief Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India
Nirvachan Sadan
New Delhi
Dear
Sir,
I
have been seeking an appointment with the Election Commission since the
afternoon of May 14 to convey our serious apprehensions regarding the possible
disruption and manipulation of the counting process in the state of West
Bengal. This appointment however has not materialized so far. Hence this letter
urging the Election Commission to take the necessary measures and make proper
preparations to ensure that the democratic verdict of the people is not
manipulated further at the stage of the counting of votes.
There
is a widespread apprehension that violence and intimidation that was widely
seen during the last phase of polling in West Bengal will find a reflection
during the counting process as well. The
reasons for this apprehension are two-fold.
First, massive manipulation of the counting process was done during the
recently concluded local body elections in the state. Though the counting for the Lok Sabha
elections will be done under the supervision of the Election Commission, there
is a widespread belief that similar tactics, as seen during the local body
elections, will be replicated. Secondly,
the widespread violence, terror and intimidation during the polling process
shows that the ruling party in the state, Trinamool Congress, is desperate to
manipulate the people’s mandate in all possible ways.
In
view of such apprehensions, we are suggesting that the EC should display utmost
vigilance, provide adequate security for the counting agents of all parties and
other such measures. These are outlined
in the enclosed letters from the Chairman of the Left Front Committee of West
Bengal, which have already been sent to you directly. The same concerns have
been raised with the CEO, West Bengal and
the Special Observer.
May
I request you to consider these suggestions with the seriousness that the
situation warrants in the state of West Bengal. To ensure that the counting of
votes proceeds smoothly, these suggestions must be acted upon urgently and
firmly.
From
many counting centres in the state, such apprehensions are pouring in seeking
proper security arrangements during the counting process. Similarly, instances of how efforts are being
made to prepare from manipulating the counting process are also pouring in from
many centres. There are reports that EVMs are not properly protected and in
some instances, no elections official has been assigned duty to remain at the
centre during the night. There are also
reports that the identity cards of counting agents from the opposition parties
have been forcibly acquired by the ruling party, so that they can prevent the
counting agents of opposition parties from being present and hence facilitate
the manipulation of the counting. These
are based on verified reports. Therefore, we are urging the EC not to dismiss
such apprehensions as mere allegations.
I
am enclosing, as a sample of such concerns based on concrete evidence, two letters. One letter is from the Secretary
of the Hooghly District Committee of the CPI(M) and another from the Chairman,
Left Front Committee, West Bengal, so that you are familiarized with the ground
realities in the state.
I
am also enclosing the text of an interview that appeared on the front page of
the largest circulated Bengali newspaper – one of the largest circulated
dailies in the country – the Ananda Bazar Patrika on May 14. The interview is
with the Special Observer appointed by the Election Commission to oversee the
election process in the state. Media reports inform that this observer, Shri
Sudhir Kumar Rakesh has returned to his original duties in his parent state the
moment polling ended on May 12. Hence it is possible that no such oversight by
an observer appointed by the Election Commission would be there on the counting
day. The interview is in Bengali with the gist in English appended at the end.
Since I am aware that one of the honourable Election Commissioners is familiar
with Bengali language you can have the benefit of the original transcript
without being subjected to possible distortions in a free translation. This
interview speaks for itself on the degree of malpractices that have occurred
during the polling process in the state of West Bengal.
May
I hope that you will take these suggestions seriously and do the needful.
With
regards,
Yours
sincerely
(Sitaram Yechury)
Member,
Polit Bureau
Encl:
1.
Three letters written by the Chairman, Left Front Committee, West Bengal
2.
A letter from the Secretary of the CPI (M) Hooghly District Committee
3.
The transcript of the interview that appeared in the Ananda Bazar Patrika of
observer Shri Sudhir Kumar Rakesh on May 14, 2014
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