Bengal Election Commissioner resigns following continuous attacks by TMC

KOLKATA: Following repeated attacks by the ruling TMC leaders, West Bengal state election commissioner Susanta Ranjan Upadhyaya today tendered his resignation to governor of West Bengal, Keshari Nath Tripathi. Upadhyaya today held a meeting with Governor Tripathi and resigned.

Even though, there were reports of Upadhyay submitting a report to Governor on the municipal election that took place on October 3, sources in the commission revealed that the commissioner has already resigned.

Governor late in the evening confirmed that he had received Upadhyaya's resignation. "State election commissioner has tendered his resignation letter. I have forwarded it to the state government," said Governor on the sidelines of a programme.

TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee on Monday said that the state election commissioner should step down as he had already bowed down to the pressure of BJP and CPM. The state election commission on Monday put off the date of counting and ordered re-poll in some booths. Explaining the decision, commissioner said that he had received some ‘specific complaints’ of rigging and the commission would investigate the complaints.

Immediately after this announcement, the TMC leaders led by Partha Chatterjee started agitating in front of the election commission office. Senior TMC leaders Partha Chatterjee and Subrata Mukherjee met the election commissioner and demanded to continue with the counting as scheduled.