Seeking to check poll-related violence in West Bengal, the Election Commission today stepped in by warning of action against officers who fail to take preventive measures and said perpetrators would not be spared irrespective of their political affiliation.
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Kolkata: The Election Commission today removed South 24 Parganas District Magistrate (DM) Dr P B Salim and Superintendent of Police (SP) in North 24 Parganas district Tanmoy Roy Chowdhury following complaints by opposition parties ahead of the fourth phase assembly poll in Bengal.
The fourth phase of assembly elections will be held in West Bengal tomorrow.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed across the Howrah and Uttar 24-Parganas districts around all the polling stations’ 100 metre radius since last evening, prior to 48 hours of the polling. “The Commission has directed the State Election Machinery and police authorities to deal with all such matters timely and effectively”, it said.
Route marches for area domination by security forces, which normally begin after the campaign ends, started two nights ago.
In North 24 Parganas, 257 companies of Central forces and more than 5,000 State police personnel will be deployed.
In this phase, Howrah Dakshin in Howrah district is the largest constituency electorate-wise, and Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district the biggest in terms of area.
Madan Mitra was arrested by CBI in December 2014 in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam case.
Heavyweights such as Finance Minister Amit Mitra and former Transport Minister Madan Mitra – now in jail – are in the fray.
Mitra’s name had also figured in Narada sting operation, an issue which has been haunting TMC ever since the video was released.
Former India footballer Dipendu Biswas, retired global cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla and late Board of Control for Cricket India president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s daughter Baishali Dalmiya are also contesting the election on Trinamool tickets.
Bidhannagar Mayor Sabyasachi Dutta is contesting from the Rajarhat New Town seat.
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Parts of the Sundarbans delta are also included in this phase where climate change and man-animal conflict are issues.
