SEC to poll observers: Perform duty without fear

Kolkata/Berhmapore: A day after informing the Mamata Banerjee government about the need for the deployment of the Central paramilitary forces for the panchayat elections, West Bengal state election commissioner Amarendra Kumar Singh on Saturday acknowledged to the poll observers at a meeting that the situation has been turbulent in the state.

Directing them to work honestly and without fear he also asked them to call him whenever required since they, despite being the government servants, are the “eyes and ears” of the state poll panel.

According to him, the state poll panel has been provided barely half of the total number of the poll observers sought from the state government.

On Friday, Mr Singh had sent a letter to Nabanna, the state secretariat, stating the requirement of the central forces during the polls. 

On Saturday he held a meeting with 166 poll-observers at Sisir Mancha about the poll preparations. While explaining the task of the poll-observers, Mr Singh noted that the situation in the state has been violent, sources revealed. 

He also complained that while a list of 342 poll observers was sent to the state government, the state poll panel has been alloted only 170 of them, sources claimed adding that referring to six incidents in the morning Mr Singh even wondered about the reports of violence over filing nominations close to the sub division offices (SDO) in the districts.