CPI(M) says second phase of Bengal polls peaceful, seeks tight security for strong rooms

The CPI(M) on Wednesday said the second phase of polling in West Bengal was by and large peaceful, though there were scattered attempts to intimidate voters. Addressing a press conference at the party's state headquarters, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim said poll officials were largely able to conduct the elections peacefully. He said there were no major incidents of violence during the assembly elections in a state known for poll-related clashes, adding that the process proved elections could be peaceful if conducted strictly according to rules. Salim said the party wanted the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) strong rooms and counting centres to be properly secured till completion of counting for all 294 assembly seats. Referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he said lakhs of migrant voters and others residing outside the state had returned to cast their votes, while names of deceased voters and fake entries had also been removed. ''Because of these factors, the polling percentage was very high this election,'' he said. Maintaining that many people had lost their voting rights during the SIR process, he said the party would continue to raise the issue. ''Because of the SIR, the absolute number of voters has gone down,'' he said, adding that the rolls had been ''sanitised'' to some extent. Salim claimed a high voter turnout reflected sentiment against the ruling dispensation. He said that in several cases, complaints regarding false voting and booth jamming were acted upon by the Election Commission and central forces. Alleging that buttons on some EVMs were taped, Salim said party candidates in those constituencies would seek repolling in the affected booths. He also asserted that the CPI(M) would not be part of any ''horse-trading'' after the results are declared. Expressing optimism, Salim said the party was confident of winning some seats in the election. The CPI(M)-led Left Front had failed to win any seat in the 2021 assembly polls. Commenting on IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, who was appointed police observer for South 24 Parganas district by the Election Commission, Salim said there was no need for any ''macho officer'', and that police should simply follow SOPs and guidelines to ensure free and fair polls. West Bengal voted for 142 seats in the second phase on Wednesday, while polling for 152 seats in the first phase was held on April 23. The votes in all 294 assembly seats will be counted on May 4.

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