TMC demands counting of votes for civic poll on October 7

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress on Monday demanded that the State Election Commission reverse its decision to postpone counting of votes at Bidhannagar and Asansol municipal corporations and threatened to launch a movement if it was not taken up on October 7 as scheduled.

"We want to know under whose pressure they (SEC) took such a decision. Counting should be held on October 7. This is our demand. If no decision is taken today, our movement and protest will continue," TMC secretary-general and Education minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters after meeting the SEC.

The SEC had yesterday postponed counting of votes for Bidhannagar and Asansol municipal corporations besides Bally under Howrah municipal corporation, where elections were held last Saturday, following allegations of large-scale violence and malpractices.

The TMC under the leadership of city mayor Sovan Chatterjee staged dharna in the commission office here protesting against the SEC's decision to postpone counting.

Senior party leader and minister Subrata Mukherjee and TMC general secretary Subrata Bakshi also participated in the sit-in.

Describing the postponement of the counting as "unconstitutional", he wondered "whether it was done under pressure from the Raj Bhavan or Delhi".

He said that the state BJP president was announcing the decision of the commission regarding postponement of counting of votes before it was announced by the SEC.

Claiming that Mamata Banerjee has restored democracy in the state, Chatterjee said, "When the state was marching on the path of development under her leadership, the CPI-M is trying to return to power through destructive politics".

Later reminded by the reporters that those arrested in connection with the poll violence belonged to the TMC, he said, "Whatever has to be said will be said by the administration."

Chatterjee said that his party would hold a procession in the city tomorrow from College Square to Rani Rashmoni Avenue to protest against "violence unleashed by the CPI-M" and added "if the SEC does not take any decision by that time the agitation will head towards the SEC office".