Election Commission to scan Mamata Banerjee's poll speeches

Kolkata: The Election Commission on Wednesday asked for the CDs of all election meetings of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in which she attacked the poll panel.

The directive to the state's Chief Electoral Officer, Sunil Gupta, came barely a day after the state government reluctantly agreed to abide by the EC's order of transfer of top officials on election duty after initial resistance.

"We have been asked to collect the CDs of all meetings of the chief minister in the last few days in Hooghly and Burdwan districts. We will collect and send them to the EC for scrutiny and necessary action," Gupta said here.

Gupta said he had already asked the DMs concerned to collect the CDs of all the meetings the CM addressed and send them to the CEO's office immediately.

In several election rallies in the districts over the last two days, Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the poll body and even targeted some of its officials for giving the directive on removal of seven officials assigned to poll duty.

Banerjee had not only condemned the EC for, what she alleged, showing partiality in giving the order, but even dared the poll panel to implement its order.

Gupta said he would send the CDs to the EC headquarters which would scrutinise them and take necessary action.

Meanwhile, the CEO also asked the DM of Howrah district for his report on burning of an effigy of the Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi by workers of a political party near the state secretariat.

"The report will also be scanned and appropriate action taken," Gupta said.