CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury met the Election Commission on Saturday to convey the party’s concern about the situation in West Bengal and raised questions on the panel’s “neutrality” following reports that Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa’s dissent over clearance given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged violation of the model code of conduct was not revealed.
If dissenting opinions made by judges in the Supreme Court can be made public, then why can’t those of the Election Commissioners, Mr. Yechury asked.
“Whatever is happening in the EC is dangerous for democracy. This has raised a serious question on the neutrality of the EC itself. Even in the Supreme Court, there are minority and majority opinions. There are so many cases in which there have been dissent among judges, but the minority dissent opinion has always been made public. If the opinion of dissenting judges comes out in the public, then why not the ECs’,” he said.
He submitted 10 letters alleging irregularities written by CPI(M) candidate Faud Halim in the Diamond Harbour constituency and an election agent in Jadavpur in West Bengal. The CPI(M) demanded re-polling in 630 booths across various constituencies in West Bengal.
