CPI(M) State Secretary  and leader of opposition Jitendra Chaudhury becomes vocal against turning the 3-tier Panchayat polls into a complete farce. The aggrieved Left-party leader writes a letter to the State Election Commissioner, requesting to take immediate action in this regard. He appealed to the Election Commission to stop this farce of democracy after allegedly throwing out agents of the opposition parties in many counting centers in the state Citing reference of specific examples, Jitendra Chaudhury said,” Most disturbing and unbelievable news has been reported from the counting center of the Gram Panchayat  election at Kathalia under Sepahijala District. It has been reported that while the CPI(M) candidates were leading in a good number of seats, the ruling BJP miscreants abruptly entered the counting hall with deadly weapons like Dao, sharp cutters, sticks, iron rods, etc. and attempted to assault the opposition counting agents. The CPI (M) counting Agents, however, somehow escaped from the counting hall to save their lives in front of armed miscreants.

It is surprising that despite the so-called strong security cover to guard the counting hall this could happen which is a black instance of dacoity of people’s mandate by the armed ruling miscreants.

It has been further reported that, in most of the Counting halls though counting has been over in many GP seats, the concerned ROs are not declaring results in any of those wherein many seats were won by the Opposition parties. It is apprehended that, the BJP would force the Returning Officers to re-count those seats won by the opposition to reverse the result in their favor through manipulation at night. Under the circumstances, I fervently urge you to take urgent steps: (i) To immediately direct to stop counting at Kathalia Block and correctly preserve the ballot boxes, and (ii) To declare all the results so far counting completed without delay.”

 Now it remains to be seen whether the Commission can take appropriate action against these serious allegations after receiving such a complaint.