EC turns down Bengal plea of rescheduling poll

The Election Commission today turned down a demand made by the Congress and the BJP for rescheduling of the first phase of the West Bengal A...

The Election Commission today turned down a demand made by the Congress and the BJP for rescheduling of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls.

8216;8216;We have decided that there would be no change in the poll schedule,8217;8217; Chief Election Commissioner CEC B B Tandon said. Placing the rescheduling demand, Congress8217; West Bengal working president Pradip Bhattacharya had said, 8216;8216;The Higher Secondary examination will conclude on April 13, and April 14 is the Bengali New Year day. We will hardly get any time to campaign mainly for the first two phases of the poll.8217;8217;

The same issue was raised by the BJP West Bengal general secretary Rahul Sinha, in a letter to the CEC. Meanwhile, the EC today directed Assam poll officials to constantly review execution of non-bailable warrants, recovery of illicit arms and collection of licensed arms from undesirable elements. Briefing the poll observers for Assam which would witness a two-phased election on April 3 and 10, Tandon directed that they strictly enforce the model code of conduct.

He specifically asked the observers to tour their allotted Assembly constituencies extensively in order to build confidence among the weaker and other disadvantaged sections.

Giving a series of directives to 88 observers, he said that during the forthcoming elections, not more than three vehicles would be allowed within 100 metres of Returning Officers and Assistant ROs8217; office at the time of nomination.

To curb overcrowding, only candidates, their proposers and four others would be allowed to enter the office of ROs at the time of filing of nominations.

The observers have also been asked to make sure that affidavits detailing the movable/immovable assets, qualifications, convictions, cases pending in courts are displayed prominently and made available for public scrutiny.