"Baseless": Election Panel On Trinamool's Allegation Of Action On Workers

Mamata Banerjee, while addressing party members at an auditorium in Bolpur, Birbhum district, had said she had chanced upon WhatsApp conversations of the special observers.

A day after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee alleged there were plans to detain her party workers ahead of voting in West Bengal at the instance of poll observers, the Election Commission said no instructions have been issued by any of its officers or observers to act against workers of any political party. In a statement, the Election Commission said a section of the media has reported about "allegations" made the West Bengal Chief Minister that instructions have been given by some ECI officers and observers to arrest "TMC goons". "Such statements supposedly attributed to ECI officers and observers are absolutely baseless, false and misleading. No such instructions have been given by any observer, Chief Electoral Officer or officer of the Commission to act against workers of any party(ies)," the statement said. Ms Banerjee had on Saturday alleged that she has come to know that three special observers of the Election Commission have "ordered police officers to detain TMC workers ahead of the voting exercise, and said that she would move the Supreme Court against this "conspiracy".