West Bengal CEO Calls for Zero Tolerance on Post-Poll Violence Amid TMC Protests Over EVM Claims
Bengal CEO pushes action on post-poll violence as TMC stages sit-in over EVM irregularity claims
The Economic TimesImage: The Economic Times
Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, has mandated a zero tolerance policy towards post-poll violence, demanding arrests by nightfall. This directive comes as Trinamool Congress candidates protest alleged irregularities in the storage of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Kolkata, raising concerns about the integrity of the election process.
- 01West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer has ordered immediate action against post-poll violence.
- 02Trinamool Congress candidates are protesting alleged procedural irregularities regarding EVM storage.
- 03Political clashes have been reported across the state following the recent assembly elections.
- 04The Election Commission is retaining central forces in the state for ongoing security.
- 05Vote counting is scheduled for May 4, with heightened security measures in place.
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Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, has directed senior officials to adopt a zero tolerance approach to post-poll violence, insisting that those responsible be arrested by nightfall. This order follows reports of unrest in various areas, including Behala and Garia in Kolkata, after the conclusion of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Concurrently, candidates from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) staged a sit-in protest outside an EVM strongroom in Kolkata, alleging irregularities in the storage process. They claimed that party workers were asked to leave before they could verify the security of the EVMs, raising concerns about potential tampering. Agarwal refuted these allegations, asserting that the EVMs are secure and that any movement of reserve machines is standard procedure. The Election Commission has decided to maintain around 700 companies of central forces in the state to ensure security during the counting of votes, which is scheduled for May 4. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also called for vigilance among party members regarding the EVMs, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the election process.
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The directive for a zero tolerance approach to violence aims to ensure a peaceful post-election environment, which is crucial for maintaining public trust in the electoral process.
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