TMC seeks removal of EC's WB polls in-charge; alleges 'his actions are favourable to BJP'

In a key development on Thursday, TMC demanded removal of Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain as EC's in-charge of West Bengal Assembly polls. Writing to WB Chief Electoral Officer, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien complained about two purported "illegal" actions taken by Jain. First, he accused Deputy Election Commissioner of filing a biased report after vandalization of Vidyasagar College and a statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during a rally led by ex-BJP president Amit Shah in lead-up to 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

He lamented that only BJP was allowed to campaign reafter while action was taken against vandals allegedly belonging to JP Nadda-led party. Moreover, O'Brien highlighted that Jain had introduced Quick Response Team comprising state police and Central Armed Police Forces to be led by a CAPF officer during 2019 General Election. Maintaining that such a decision is beyond realm of law, he recalled that EC had withdrawn it subsequently. Observing that Jain's actions are favourable to BJP and unconstitutional, he made it clear that TMC had confidence in him. 

Read: Kailash Vijayvargia Says BJP Likely To Submit Candidate List For WB Assembly Polls Today

Here is TMC's complaint letter:

Read: 'Congress A Third Front In WB,' TMC's Saugata Roy Opines On Rift Amid Alliance With ISF

WB Assembly polls

Mamata Banerjee-led TMC had swept 2016 Assembly polls by bagging 211 seats in 294-member Assembly. Buoyed by its success in 2019 Lok Sabha polls where it won 18 out of 42 parliamentary seats in WB, BJP has launched a fierce campaign to defeat TMC. Both Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda exuded confidence in party winning more than 200 seats in Assembly polls. Congress-Left-ISF alliance is also in poll fray while AIMIM too has anunced its intention to make its political debut in state. 

Anuncing dates of Assembly polls on February 26, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora mentioned that 18.68 crore persons will decide fate of 824 seats in aforesaid 4 States and one Union Territory at 2.7 lakh polling stations. In West Bengal, 294 seats are up for grabs and people will be able to cast ir votes at 1,01,916 polling stations. As per phases, polling in state will be conducted on March 27, April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29.  counting of votes shall take place on May 2. 

Read: BJP Urges EC To Debar 2 TMC Ministers From Fighting WB Polls Over Alleged MCC Violations