Political parties in West Bengal meet EC officials, discuss LS poll-related issues

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], Mar 11 (ANI): Representatives of various political parties on Monday met the officials of State Election Commission (EC) here to discuss issues related to the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, slated to be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19.
A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation led by Minister Partha Chatterjee apprised the EC of the lengthy seven-phase polling schedule in West Bengal, where 42 seats are at stake.
Chatterjee told reporters: “In some instances, there is a gap of 14 to 20 days and polling is being held in just two constituencies. Why has this been done? We raised the issue with the state EC.”
“There should be an increase in the number of polling stations where VVPAT slips are matched with EVM results,” said Chatterjee.
West Bengal BJP unit vice president Jay Prakash Majumdar said that the party believed in conducting polls in a free and fair manner and had raised the issue earlier so that all parliamentary constituencies are monitored.
“We want to have free and fair elections. Previously, we demanded that there should be enough phases so that all booths and all parliamentary constituencies can be properly monitored. The EC has decided a historic seven-phase voting process in West Bengal,” Majumdar said.
ECI on Sunday announced the schedule for 17th Lok Sabha elections. The dates for seven-phase polling are April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. The counting of votes will be done on May 23.
TMC leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has questioned the schedule for the LS polls, saying that the people observing Ramzan will be inconvenienced in Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.
Hakim said: “The Election Commission is a constitutional body and we respect them. We don't want to say anything against them, but the seven-phase election will be tough for the people in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.” (ANI)