EC nod to outsource poll staff for Bengal

For the first time in West Bengal, polling personnel will be brought from outside the state to ensure free and fair elections on May 10.This...

For the first time in West Bengal, polling personnel will be brought from outside the state to ensure free and fair elections on May 10.

This was a ‘special measure’ for West Bengal, Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy said at a press conference today. Krishnamurthy, who was in Kolkata with other members of the Election Commission, met leaders of various parties, district magistrates, top police and administration officials to take stock of the state’s poll preparedness.

‘‘I have received complaints that non-gazetted staff of the state government are unionised and party-affiliated, so we are bringing Bengali-speaking officials from outside the state to conduct elections here. This special measure with regard to West Bengal has been taken to dispel all fears in the minds of the voters and to ensure free and fair elections in the state,’’ the CEC said.

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‘‘What we have decided is that 50 per cent of the people manning poll process in one district will be from outside the district. And this 50 per cent from outside will comprise personnel from state and central PSUs as well as personnel from outside the state who speak Bengali,’’ Krishnamurthy said.

‘‘We always said free and fair elections are not held in Bengal and the EC’s decision to bring personnel from outside vindicates our stand,’’ Nationalist Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said. The BJP called it a historic move.

The CPI(M) was guarded in its reaction. ‘‘Let’s see what the Commission does actually. We will wait for the orders,’’ said Robin Dev, Left Front’s chief whip in the Assembly.