File Photo: Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi
The Election Commission is taking urgent legal action against Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal who has been censured once and showcaused multiple times for violation of model code of conduct.
"Barring one, all political parties have bought to our attention the alleged incident. The Commission is initiating urgent legal action against such person," Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi told reporters in Kolkata on Thursday.
He, however, refused to divulge what legal action is being taken against Mr Mandal.
Mr Mandal, the Birbhum district president of TMC, was found to have made fresh comments which violate the model code of conduct. He was censured by EC on Tuesday for making certain utterances against a woman BJP candidate and was asked to be careful in future.
On earlier occasions too he has been issued showcause notice by the poll watchdog.
Mr Zaidi brushed aside demands by some political parties for removal of Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta. "Our CEO will do his level best to ensure that the elections are conducted in an appropriate manner," he said.
The Commission will not overlook any complaint in the discharge of poll-related duties by anyone and will "not hesitate to take most unpleasant action", Mr Zaidi said.
Referring to deployment of central forces for the Bengal polls, he said close to 800 companies of central forces have been put on the job.
"Close to 400 companies are coming from Assam where elections have just ended. Another 400 were already here for phase 1a and 1b. Altogether 800 companies will be pressed into service," Mr Zaidi said.
This apart 1500 central police mobile forces are being deployed.
All polling locations are being manned by central forces, he said after a mid-course review of elections for which he met top state and police officials, political parties and even a group of intellectuals.
Mr Zaidi said he has instructed to stop assembly of political workers outside polling booth. The move comes after Leader of opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra was gheraoed outside a booth during polling on April 11.