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Will be more cautious in last two phases of polls: Rakesh

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Press Trust of India Kolkata
Election Commission's Special Observer in West Bengal Sudhir Kumar Rakesh today said that the poll panel will be more cautious in conducting elections in the last two phases to avoid allegations of rigging and booth capturing.

Despite allegations of failure of the Election Commission to conduct a free and fair poll in the state, Rakesh stuck to his stand that "the third phase poll in the state on April 30 was free and fair".

The entire opposition had raised questions on the poll panel's failure to conduct the third phase election in the state freely and fairly.

During the day Youth Congress demonstrated before the office of the Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta and burned an effigy of Rakesh for their alleged failure to deliver responsibility impartially.
 

Police later removed the agitationists to clear the entrance of the CEO's office.

Even as the opposition political parties demanded repoll of April 30 election in many booths, the EC was yet to ordered repoll in any of those booths.

When reminded that the EC has sought report of many booths, Rakesh said "the CEO Sunil Gupta was working on it".

The Left Front in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath also suggested precautions for the next two phases of election in the state to prevent rigging, booth capturing and other electoral malpractices.

A LF delegation led by the CPI(M) leader Rabin Deb also met the CEO demanding him steps to restore confidence of the voters with adequate measures.

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First Published: May 05 2014 | 10:14 PM IST

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