New Delhi, May 9
On the eve of the crucial Lok Sabha
poll, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today suffered a major blow when
the Election Commission issued a show-cause notice for violating the Model Code
of Conduct and asked the West Bengal Government to register a criminal case
against the Left Front Chairman, Mr Biman Bose, for 'intimidating' election
observers.
At a press conference this evening, Deputy Election Commission A.N.
Jha said the poll panel had issued a show-cause notice to the CPM as to why its
recognition as national party should not be withdrawn. The party had given a
week's time to the party to reply to the notice.
The commission directed the
Chief Electoral Officer to file an FIR against Mr Biman Bose for inciting party
workers to create disturbances and to prevent election observers from performing
their legitimate duty.
West Bengal, a Left bastion with 42 seats, goes to the
polls tomorrow amidst the stern stricture from the Election Commission.
On the
alleged threat to 'election observers' by Mr Bose, the commission said.
"Obstructing poll observers in discharging their legitimate duty amounts to
directly interfering in the discharge of constitutional duties and I will not
hesitate to even countermand elections in West Bengal, if the party workers
vitiate the electoral process following the threats issued by Mr Bose."
Mr
Bose, a PolitBuro member of the CPM, had reportedly told mediapersons in Kolkata
yesterday that "if poll observers cross their jurisdiction on the day of the
election....people will drag them by their collar to the nearest police
station."
The commission said "these statements are highly provocative and
amounts to interfering in the electoral process with a view to vitiate it. The
Election Commission condemns this statement, which amount to intimidation of
election observers."
He said the poll panel had directed the state government
to ensure adequate security to the observers so that they were able to move
around in the constituency and observe the election process. Mr Jha said the
commission had called upon all observers to perform their duties impartially and
fearlessly.
Meanwhile, the commission said the two-member investigating team
which went to the Chapra parliamentary constituency in Bihar following
allegations of rigging and large-scale violence, submitted its report to the
poll panel today.
"We have received the report and will take appropriate action
at an appropriate time," Mr Jha said.
A two-member investigating team of the EC
had visited Bihar last week to look into complaints of malpractices during
polling in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26.
RJD chief
Laloo Prasad Yadav is contesting against Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap
Rudy in the constituency.
