Bengal Poll: Congress candidate gets relief as tribunal orders roll inclusion

Malda: In the first case heard by the appellate tribunal in Bengal, Congress candidate from the Farakka assembly constituency, Motab Sheikh, whose name had been placed under adjudication and subsequently rejected, has now been included in the electoral roll. The appellate tribunal judge and former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, TS Sivagnanam, earlier directed the ECI to include his name by 8pm on Sunday.

Sheikh had earlier moved the Calcutta HC and then the Supreme Court on the issue. In his order, Sivagnanam directed the ECI to issue a supplementary list and include Sheikh's name in the valid electoral roll by 8pm on Sunday.

Firdous Samim, Sheikh's advocate, said, "This is the first judgement of the appellate tribunal and a historic one, delivered on a Sunday."


Meanwhile, West Bengal CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal has begun visiting districts across the state to review the election situation. "I will visit every district. There is no need to fear. We will take appropriate action if required. All parties want people to vote without fear. We will work together. It is our duty to conduct free and fair elections," Agarwal said in Nandigram.