Thaindian News

Kolkata, May 12 (IANS) A section of city-based intellectuals, owing allegiance to the opposition Trinamool Congress, Tuesday alleged that the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) was bringing in cadres from outside to create trouble and destabilise the voting process.
“The CPI-M is bringing in cadres from outside to create disturbances on the day of polling. They do not want the polls to be carried out in a peaceful manner,” noted painter Suvaprasanna said.

The intellectuals, protesting under the banner of “Vote Santras Birodhi Committee”, claimed that the CPI-M was bringing in cadres from outside to create trouble and destabilise the voting process.

They also staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the Election Commission (EC) office here, demanding free and fair elections be carried out in the third and final phase of polling in West Bengal.

“We have pointed out the number of anomalies that have taken place during the voting process. We even informed state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Debashis Sen at the time when the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) cadres captured booths at Kespur. But the CEO was just mute on the whole issue,” educationist Sunanda Sanyal said.

Sen, however, refused to comment on the allegations made by the intellectuals against him.

Asked whether anti-social elements were being sheltered in guest house, marriage halls and other places across the city, the CEO said raids were being carried out at these places.