The Hindu : National : Basu gives credit to Government

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Saturday, Apr 29, 2006

National

National

Basu gives credit to Government

Special Correspondent

"Left Front will do better than last elections"

KOLKATA: It is primarily because of the State Government's efforts that the three rounds of Assembly elections held so far in West Bengal have been peaceful, Jyoti Basu, veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said here on Friday.

He expressed confidence that the Left Front would do even better than it did in the last elections.

"I have heard that the Election Commission has organised elections in the State with the help of police from outside and other personnel. But the credit for holding peaceful elections will have to go to the State Government," Mr. Basu said.

Referring to the past elections since the Left Front assumed power in 1977, Mr. Basu said: "We have done a creditable job of holding peaceful elections in the past in West Bengal, not the Election Commission."

He emphasised that this was not the first time that peaceful elections were held in the State. "I do not understand this campaign which says that polls are being held in a free manner in the State for the first time," Mr Basu said, taking a dig at the local media. Mr. Basu has been critical of some of the decisions of the Commission. He had expressed his displeasure over the decision to spread the polls over five days, which was "unwarranted and illogical."

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