BH CORRESPONDENT, Kolkata: Governor Jagdeep Dhankar called State Election Commissioner Sourabh Kumar Das at the Raj Bhavan to know about the preparation of the forthcoming municipal polls in West Bengal.
State Election Commissioner Sourabh Das and secretary of the commission Nilanjan Shandilya went to Raj Bhavan on Thursday afternoon where the Governor discussed with them regarding the preparation of the polls for 45 minutes. The Governor directed the commissioner to take all necessary steps to ensure free and fair municipal polls.
In 2018, during Panchayat Election the state had witnessed large-scale political violence across the state. Later, Raj Bhavan issued a press statement. “Governor Dhankhar emphasised that State Election Commission that as a constitutional body it is obligated to provide a level-playing field to all parties and candidates and ensure free and fair elections where voters exercise their valuable right of vote freely. Governor Dhankhar indicated State Election Commissioner Saurabh Kumar Das that all steps need to be taken to ensure that there is no violence and kind of scenario noticed in the Panchayat elections held in the in May 2018. The polls then were reportedly hit with widespread violence”, read the press statement issued by the Raj Bhavan on Thursday.
The state election commissioner has assured the Governor that the commission is taking all measures for free and fair election in municipalities and municipal corporation.
Meanwhile, the commission has published the final voter list for the upcoming municipal elections in Bengal.