Biman Bose takes on EC this time

However, he was quick to warn that no party leader at the district level should ever make any adverse comment against the EC. Instead, if they had any reservations about the EC, it should be communicated to the party8217;s headquarters.

Recently, the EC had lodged an FIR against state Transport Minister Subhas Chakrabarty for making disparaging comments about government officials working on the EC8217;s orders.

With such public statements, the CPIM seems to be fast shifting from its earlier non-confrontational stand on the EC. However, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee continues to maintain silence on the EC.

But Bose displayed no such reservations today. Alleging that many genuine voters had been struck off the lists, he said in many cases the voters had not even got a proper hearing. 8216;8216;In many places, touts were moving around posing as EC representatives. In some cases, such men have taken away the Electronic Photo I-Cards saying that the EC observers or the local police station officer wanted it for verification,8217;8217; he claimed.

Stating that the western regions of the state are reeling under drinking water crisis, Bose said the government could not provide any relief by digging tubewells because of the Model Code of Conduct.

He pointed out that village schools had been taken over by paramilitary forces for the five-phase polls from April 17 to May 8. Village women are shying away from drawing water from the water sources that are located next to the schools, he added.