'Misbehaved & left': EC hits back at Mamata's fiery attack on poll chief over SIR

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) connected Monday rejected West Bengal main curate Mamata Banerjee’s allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.ECI sources claimed the Trinamool Congress person “raised mendacious allegations, misbehaved, thumped the array and left” during a gathering connected the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.According to quality bureau ANI citing sources, CEC Gyanesh Kumar responded to the queries raised by Banerjee, who led a enactment delegation to the Election Commission and explained that the regularisation of instrumentality would prevail passim the SIR process. “The CEC responded to her queries and explained that regularisation of instrumentality shall prevail and anybody taking instrumentality into their ain hands shall beryllium dealt with strictly arsenic per the provisions of instrumentality and powers vested successful the Commission,” according to sources.The root added that contempt “polite posture” of the CEC and the 2 different Election Commissioners, Banerjee allegedly behaved successful an inappropriate manner. “The Trinamool Congress person raised mendacious allegations, misbehaved, thumped the array and left,” it claimed.ECI sources besides alleged that TMC leaders and legislators person been targeting predetermination officials successful West Bengal. It alleged that TMC MLAs are openly utilizing abusive and threatening connection against the Election Commission and particularly against the CEC.

“There person been incidents of vandalisation of the ERO (SDO/BDO) offices by TMC workers and MLAs,” the root alleged.The canvass assemblage further stressed that officers progressive successful the SIR process indispensable beryllium allowed to relation without pressure. “No pressure, obstruction, oregon interference of immoderate benignant by anyone should beryllium exerted connected officers engaged successful enactment concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls,” the sources said.The Election Commission besides raised administrative concerns, stating that honorarium for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) had not been afloat paid. “Only Rs 7,000 retired of Rs 18,000 per BLO has been paid truthful far,” a root said, adding that payments should beryllium released without delay.The sources further said that the EROs and AEROs deployed successful the authorities were not of the required rank. They highlighted that the Commission had sought proposals for the assignment of Returning Officers connected January 20 arsenic per prescribed criteria, but lone 67 Assembly constituencies presently person ROs of the fertile of SDO oregon SDM.The ECI besides alleged procedural lapses by the West Bengal government, including the transportation of 3 Electoral Roll Observers without consulting the Commission. “The ECI requested cancellation of the transportation orders connected January 27, but nary enactment has been reported truthful far,” a root said.Additionally, the canvass assemblage claimed that nary FIR had been registered against 4 predetermination officers, 2 EROs and 2 AEROs and 1 Data Entry Operator for their nonaccomplishment to execute their statutory duties and for violating information information policies by sharing log-in credentials with unauthorised persons.Earlier successful the day, Banerjee had sharply attacked the CEC portion speaking to reporters extracurricular the Election Commission office. “I americium precise sad. I person been progressive successful authorities successful Delhi for a precise agelong time. I was a curate 4 times and an MP 7 times. I person ne'er seen specified an Election Commissioner who is truthful arrogant, who is specified a liar,” she alleged.The West Bengal main curate accused the canvass assemblage of selectively targeting her authorities and questioned the deletion of voters’ names.

“Why Bengal is being targeted? Elections are a festival successful a democracy, but you deleted the names of 58 lakh radical and did not let them to support themselves,” she said.The confrontation comes up of Assembly elections successful West Bengal, scheduled to beryllium held successful the archetypal fractional of this twelvemonth and amid heightened governmental hostility implicit the ongoing nationwide SIR exercise, which is presently nether mode successful 12 states and national territories. The last electoral rolls are scheduled to beryllium published connected February 7.