DM lodges complaint with EC

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March. 9. — A complaint was lodged by the Malda district magistrate before the state Election Commission on Wednesday, on the basis of an allegation by the Malda BJP against the state minister for food processing industries and horticulture, Mr Sailen Sarkar. In the complaint, the BJP alleged that the post-cards circulated to voters by Mr Sailen Sarkar in his constituency via post for election campaigning are prototypes of the Indian postal department’s post card. “I have placed a complaint before the EC regarding the matter”, said the DM, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri. He further said that the issue has raised eyebrows because the post-cards used is modeled on the post-cards issued by the Indian Postal Department. “The postal department will look into the matter”, he said. On the other hand, the Trinamul Congress has demanded the EC’s monitoring over the electoral expenses incurred by Mr Sarkar. Some officials stated: “The postal department may earn revenue by selling the required tickets for posting the post-cards to the voters”. The CPI-M leaders said: “When the EC has forbidden us from writing on the walls and imposed so many restrictions regarding election propaganda, we were pressed to find alternative ways for campaigning”. “We have planned to paste banners and posters on the body of our workers, so that none can raise objections”, said Ambar Mitra, a senior CPI-M leader. Reportedly, the LF organisations are busy planning out new methods for campaigning that will not violate the EC guideline. At the same time, the English Bazaar panchayat-samiti too has published a calendar carrying photographs of development works such as inauguration and laying of foundation-stone programmes in the block under the leadership of the Left Front government indirectly. Though, it is a good mode of campaigning. It leaves no scope for objection because in the photographs, there are government officers and public representatives including opposition members as well.