EC committed to providing conducive environment in Bengal for polls

Kolkata, Feb 1 (IANS) Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Friday said the Commission was fully committed to providing a safe and conducive environment to conduct the coming general elections in West Bengal.

Arora was here along with the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) since the last two days to oversee poll preparedness in the state.

"After holding meetings with all political parties yesterday (Thursday), the ECI has taken note of all their concerns regarding security.

"The ECI is committed to providing safe and conducive environment during the elections. It has asked the administration that effective monitoring and vigilance be done and concerns of the political parties be addressed," Arora told the media here.

He said that along with the norm of appointing general and expenditure observers, the Commission will also appoint accessibility observers for the first time during the coming elections.

It has also proposed intensive action plans to enable adequate confidence building among the voters.

"Bengal is an emotional place. It has been at the pinnacle of culture and traditions and so on... But if those emotions get channelised in the direction of violence, the EC will intervene," the Commissioner said.

"I have asked the District Magistrates and police officers to ensure speedy execution of non-bailable warrants and disposal of pending cases from the last elections."

He said the Commission has directed the officials to make electoral rolls error free and identify the expenditure in sensitive constituencies.

Arora said VVPATs will be used along with EVM machines at all polling booths in the state for the first time.

"The Chief Electoral Officer in this state has been directed to organise review and awareness campaigns at the booth level," he added.