Bengal poll panel orders re-poll in 11 booths in 2 municipalities

West Bengal State Election Commission on Thursday announced that re-polling in nine polling booths in Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and two polling booths in Asansol Municipal Corporation will be held on Friday.

The announcement were made by interim State Election Commissioner Alapan Bandyopadhyay after holding meeting with senior district and police officials involved in election. The nine polling booths are located in four wards in Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation- ward number 9, 33, 34 and 41 . In Asansol Municipal Corporation the re-polling has been ordered in two polling booths of Ward no 14 and 75.

Counting of the votes in Asansol and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and certain added areas of Howrah Municipal Corporation will be held on October 10 ( Saturday).

“ We held series of meetings and re examined and re-scruntised the evidences,” Mr Bandyopadayay said, adding that the officials through a quasi- judicial "distinguished between violence on the street and vitiation of the poll process".

He pointed out unless, “violence on the streets is palpably demonstrating to be affecting poll process” re-poll has not been ordered.

Civic elections to the municipal corporations on October 3- particularly Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation was marred by violence. Over a dozen of journalist were also attacked during the polls at Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation.

HC approved over State Election Commissioner appointment

A voter of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation moved the Calcutta High Court during the dayseeking an interim order that interim State Election Commissioner Alapan Bandyopadhyay should not take any decision in connection with the recently held municipal polls.

Senior Advocate Samaraditya Pal appearing for Amitava Majumdar, a resident of Bidhannagar argued that a provisional appointee should not take decision on polling or re-polling associated. The petitioner has also challenged the constitutionality of the provision West Bengal State Election Commission where a serving State Government officer has been put at the helm of a constitutional post.

The matter will be heard again on Friday.