Kerala CM justifies CPI(M) not sending representative to INDIA coordination committee
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday justified the CPI(M) not sending a representative to the INDIA coordination committee and said the Left party opposed the idea of it becoming an organisation.
He said the decision not to be a part of the coordination committee was not taken now but much earlier.
Addressing a press conference here, the Left veteran also said the party's Polit Bureau and the Central Committee had held discussions on this earlier and decided on it.
"We accepted that there could be a platform or forum but opposed the idea of it becoming an organisation. That is why when they decided to set up a coordination committee - which is an organisational set-up- we opposed it," Vijayan said.
Responding to a question on Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan's allegation that the CPI(M) central leadership decided against sending a representative solely due to the insistence of the party's Kerala leaders due to an unholy nexus with the BJP, the CM said the opposition leader suffers from "such issues" sometimes.
"His conclusions sometimes go terribly wrong," Vijayan said with a smile.
The CM also said anyone with a basic understanding of politics knows how CPI(M) works as a party.
"CPI(M) is not a party where either an individual or a state can force it to reach a particular decision. It is only the collective decision of CPI(M) that comes out," he added.
He also said that INDIA, as a platform, needed to be discussed only among senior leaders of political parties and in such discussions senior leaders of the CPI(M) would also participate.
"We are not against that," Vijayan added.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
