Adequate security for counting: Bengal poll panel

The West Bengal State Election Commission on Monday said it is ensuring adequate police presence and monitoring during Saturday's counting process for declaring results of the October 3 municipal polls.

“In all the places, adequate police arrangements are being ensured. The commission has instructed continuous monitoring through CCTV cameras so all arrangements are being attempted,” said interim state election commissioner Alapan Bandyopadhyay.

The polls to the two municipal corporations along with parts of the Howrah municipal corporation were held on October 3 but were marred by allegations of violence and malpractice.

Media persons faced the ire of alleged Trinamool Congress workers and hoodlums as they tried to film and click photos of electoral malpractices during the polling.

On Friday, <g data-gr-id="28">repolling</g> in 11 booths - 9 in Bidhannagar and two in Asansol civic bodies - was held with Opposition — the Left Front, <g data-gr-id="25">Congress</g> and the Bharatiya Janata Party - boycotting the balloting.

The final poll percentage for Bidhannagar was 30.6 percent while for Asansol it stood at 72.41 in ward no. 14 and at 68.25 in ward no. 75.

The commissioner also said it had not received any report on irregularity during polling. “We have not received any report so far on any major irregularity from any municipal returning officer yet,” he said, adding that he did not receive complaints from journalists of any “problems”.