Apprehension on EC functioning, Mamata must give additional details: CPI's D. Raja

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) CPI General Secretary, D. Raja, on Tuesday claimed that there were several "apprehensions" in the way the Election Commission functioned during the Assembly polls. However, he said that West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, should present "facts" to prove her allegations against the polling agency. 

Speaking to IANS, he alleged: "There were several apprehensions the way the Election Commission has been working. It has been favouring the BJP."

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation last month, he said: "The Prime Minister used 'Doordarshan' to address the nation, accusing Opposition parties on the Women's Reservation Bill. It was clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct but the Election Commission did not take any action."

"So, there were many apprehensions about the functioning of the Election Commission," he reiterated.

D Raja, however, said that being the sitting Chief Minister of Bengal, if Mamata Banerjee is making allegations against the EC, "then she has to tell the people what are facts and evidences".

"The Election Commission and the Union government will have to respond then," he added.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress lost to the BJP in West Bengal which secured 206 seats out of 293, whose results were counted on Monday.

The CPI leader also reacted to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's statement that the latter "will work for the Hindus" in Nandigram.

He said: "The BJP will pursue politics of polarisation and play the communal card between Hindus and Muslims and that will lead to communal conflicts. We will have to wait and see."

Adhikari made the statement a day after his victory from both the Nandigram and Bhabanipur Assembly constituencies.

Further, on Adhikari's statement that Trinamool will be "destroyed" within 24 hours, D Raja said: "I don't know what he means by that. How they are going to finish the Trinamool overnight. Mamata Banerjee is capable of responding to him."

About several BJP leaders claiming a 'saffron wave' in the country, the CPI leader said: "One can think like it is the 'saffron wave' because BJP has come to power again in Assam and for the first time in Bengal. But I don't think that saffron can take over the whole country. We will have to wait and see."

--IANS

cg/rad