[Marxistindia] Left Underlines Burning Issues with the Election Commission

[news from the cpi(m)]

March 26, 2019

 

Press Release

 

Left Underlines Burning Issues with the Election Commission

 

A delegation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party
of India led by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Nilotpal Basu and CPI National
Secretary D. Raja met the full Election Commission on March 25 and raised
the following: 

 

Modi Biopic

 

The delegation had a detailed discussion with the EC on the release of the
biopic on Shri Narendra Modi.  The delegation pointed out that there are
well-established precedents on withholding the release of such propaganda
materials during the pendency of the elections.  The EC, however, was
non-committal.

 

VVPAT

 

The delegation also reiterated the demand  of matching the VVPAT records
with those of the EVM for randomly chosen 50 per cent of the booths.  The EC
pointed out that as per the Supreme Court direction, the Commission will be
submitting an affidavit on March 28 on this subject.

 

Law and Order Situation in Tripura and West Bengal

 

The delegation also pointed out the serious law and order situation in
Tripura and West Bengal, where the ruling party goons are particularly
targeting the Left Front and its candidates.  There were physical attacks on
the Tripura West Parliamentary constituency candidate of CPI(M), MP, Sankar
Prasad Datta, thrice on the 23rd March.  The delegation also pointed out
that this was despite the assurance given by the Commission on March 6. The
delegation urged that unless specific mechanism for ensuring security is put
in place, the assurances will remain in default.  

 

Similarly, in West Bengal, attacks are particularly brazen in constituencies
like Coochbehar and Diamond Harbour with large number of officials, who
ought to have been transferred out of election duty, continue to  remain in
place despite the norms set out in the past.  

 

The delegation also pointed out the peculiar case of the wife of Shri
Abhishek Banerjee, MP and TMC candidate in Diamond Harbour. As per media
reports she was hauled up for carrying gold and foreign currency notes.
While the customs authorities have filed an FIR, a case was not registered
on the material which was being smuggled in.  The delegation urged that
there should be a probe by the Commission to ascertain the truth as this has
financial implications and a possible impact on free and fair polls.  

 

The memorandum submitted before the Commission is attached.

 

 

(Hari Singh Kang)

For Central Committee Office

______________________________________________________

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (MARXIST)

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (CPI)

 

March 25, 2019

Dear Shri. Arora ji,

In continuation of our letter dated seeking for an appointment with the
Commission dated 22nd March 2019, we are constrained to draw your attention
to the following facts.

1)   We are attaching herewith a copy of the letter written to you by Shri.
S. Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary, Communist Party of India. (Annexure-1)


It has been brought to our notice that the biopic on Shri. Narendra Modi is
going to be released on an all India basis. From the widespread sneak
reviews of the film published in the media, it is clear that it is a
propaganda film. We have umpteen numbers of precedents from Election
Commission's responses to the exhibition of films involving candidates.
Reportedly, the film is going to be released on 12th April in 23 Indian
languages. The elections are to start from 11th April and will continue till
the 19th May.  Shri. Narendra Modi has been announced as a candidate in
these elections. Given the precedents, we urge the Commission to stop the
exhibition of the film till the elections are over and further no publicity
regarding the film should be put out in the media as this would clearly
constitute a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). 

2)   We are attaching herewith several papers, complaints, media reports
which underline the threats to  the holding of free and fair polls in
Tripura and West Bengal.(Annexure.2-Tripura, Annexure.3-West Bengal)

We would like to recall our meeting with you on the 6th of March where we
had particularly highlighted the specific nature of the threats in holding a
fair election in Tripura. Unfortunately, several incidents are taking place
on a continued basis since then, which vindicate our worst apprehensions. Of
these of particular concern is the attack on Shri. Shankar Dutta, the CPI(M)
candidate for the Tripura West Parliamentary constituency thrice in course
of a single day on Sunday, the 24th of March. Many of these incidents are
taking place right in front of the security forces and the police, despite
all information and permissions secured from the concerned election
authorities. Similar incidents are also there for the Tripura East (ST)
Parliamentary constituency. The formal letters of the two candidates who
were part of our delegation on 6th March constitute part of annexure.2. we
would also like to further underline that the Chief Minister of Tripura,
Shri. Biplab Deb have spoken on camera invoking the military conflicts and
the heroism of the armed forces linking it with the Narendra Modi led
government despite the express direction of the Election Commission to the
contrary.

Similarly, several points have been highlighted in the papers relating to
West Bengal for the holding of free and fair polls in the state. All of
these have been annexed (Annexure.3-West Bengal). Here also there are
several instances of attacks by the ruling TMC goons with the full
connivance of the state police administration. We have also drawn your
attention to the incident involving the gold haul recovered from the wife of
Shri. Abhishek Banerjee, M.P. from Diamond Harbour Parliamentary
Constituency who is again once again contesting from the same seat. It has
been reported that the customs authorities in the NSCB airport in Kolkata
have filed a FIR against her. As part of the report, we have been also given
to understand that there was an attempt by the state police to get her
released without registering a case. Since, she was allegedly carrying both
gold and foreign currency notes which have financial implications in the
election process, it ought to be within the purview of the Election
Commission and warrants an independent probe. 

3)   We had flagged the necessity for matching the tally as recorded in the
EVMs, as well as, the concerned VVPAT counts in at least 50 per cent of the
booths in a Lok Sabha constituency. This is absolutely imperative in putting
all doubts to complete rest.

Thanking you

With regards

Yours sincerely

Nilotpal Basu
D. Raja         

Member, CPIM Polit Bureau                                   National
Secretary, CPI  

 

Shri Sunil Arora

Chief Election Commissioner

Election Commission of India

Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi

 

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