WB opposition parties withdraw demonstration at SEC office

Kolkata: The sit-in demonstration, both inside and outside the State Election Commission office by opposition parties alleging rampant rigging and violence during today's polls to two municipal corporations in West Bengal, was withdrawn after the poll body assured of "looking into" the matter and informing about its decision by tomorrow.

"The BJP representatives had demanded that today's elections be countermanded, but we can't take any decision in a haste. We have to assess the reports of our observers and go through the footage available to us. They had also demanded that the counting dates be postponed. We are looking into the matter and will inform about out decision by tomorrow," State Election Commissioner S R Upadhyay told PTI.

"The Left parties have also demanding repolling at several booths. We will go through all reports available to us and will inform them by 5 PM tomorrow," Upadhyay said.

Earlier in the evening, a BJP delegation headed by its state president Rahul Sinha staged a dharna outside Upadhyay's office cabin after meeting him there.

The Left and Congress demonstrated and sat on a dharna on the road in front of the main entrance of the SEC's office.

Sinha told reporters after withdrawing their demonstration that the BJP would wait till 5 PM tomorrow and would again stage a sit-in if the SEC failed to take proper action.