EC to hold high-level meeting in Bengal next week

Amid reports of widespread violence across districts in West Bengal in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain would come to the eastern metropolis on May 12 and hold a high-level meeting the next day ahead of the last phase of elections, an official said here on Thursday.

Jain is scheduled to come here on Sunday late evening, the day on which the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls in eight constituencies will be held in the state.

"Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain will come to Kolkata on May 12. He will conduct the first meeting on May 13 for the seventh phase election regarding the preparedness," said Additional Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, Sanjay Basu.

The District Election Officers (DEOs), Superintendents of Police and others of the parliamentary constituencies of the seventh phase will be present, he said.

Sharing the details of Jain's visit, Basu said: "There is a second meeting the same day at 4 pm where he will conduct a counting training for DEOs and Returning Officers (RO) of all parliamentary constituencies".

He said a demonstration of counting hall will be given. The DEOs and ROs of the sixth phase will not be able to attend as they will be busy with the scrutiny.

The seventh and the last phase election will be held in nine constituencies - Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata North and South - on May 19.

The votes will be counted on May 23. IANS