Guv sends ‘report’ to commission in sealed envelope

Governor C V Ananda Bose sent a sealed envelope, containing his observations during his visit to violence-stricken areas, to State Election Commission (SEC) Rajiva Sinha on Wednesday.

Raj Bhavan is learnt to have summoned Sinha but the latter failed to turn up, reasoning that he was very busy with election work.

The Governor, who has been visiting violence-stricken areas, had said that he will discuss the situation with the SEC.

Presently, sources said that since Sinha failed to turn up, a report in a sealed cover has reached the state poll body, but the content of the report, is still unknown.

The last time Sinha could not make time for the Governor, the latter had returned his joining letter, raising questions over the validity of his appointment.

However, the Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a PIL demanding cancellation of the appointment of Sinha and observed that the court should not be used as a medium of political gains by filing multiple petitions on the ensuing Panchayat polls in Bengal. In light of this present matter, the Governor had mentioned recently that he understands that the state election commissioner is busy with the polls but asserted that he expects the election body to act on his observations and ensure there is a free, fair and peaceful election.

Meanwhile, the SEC is learnt to have told the High Court on Tuesday that Bengal is not the only state that witnesses violence during elections and such instances take place in other states too.

This was said while opposing an appeal filed by the National Human Rights Commission seeking to deploy its officials as “observers” during the Panchayat poll.