Bengal CEO office refutes opposition allegations

Kolkata, April 1 (IANS) Amidst allegations from the opposition parties that the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal is being partial towards the state's ruling party, an official of the CEO's office on Tuesday said that they are doing their job.

Accusing CEO Aariz Aftab of being "partisan" towards the ruling Trinamool Congress, a state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by Mukul Roy stated that they did not want to discuss their issues with the Special Police Observer in detail in the presence of CEO.

"The people of Bengal have the perception that the CEO in the state is partisan. He is not impartial. So whatever complaints we make will be relayed to the state government and Trinamool Congress within two minutes. That is why we did not want to say anything (to the observer) in the CEO's presence," Roy said.

"We do our job. So I have nothing to comment on it. People can have their own opinion," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu told reporters here.

Regarding the allegations against police officers for being photographed with the Chief Minister, Basu said he is not authorised to talk about it and added that the Election Commission of India will look into the matter.

Asked about an incident where a cheque was offered allegedly for seeking votes in South 24 Parganas district, Basu said: "Something of this sort has been noticed by our media watch cell. We have asked for a factual report".

Special Police Observer Vivek Dube and CEO Aftab visited the state Secretariat, Nabanna, on Monday afternoon.

Asked whether such visits are permitted under the rules of the EC, Basu said: "It is his prerogative, I have nothing to say."

The CEO's office has seized 6,56,945 litres of liquor and Rs 12.58 crore in cash since the announcement of election.

"We have got report that to date, all the seizures of cash and other items have no connection with the elections," Basu added.