On April 7, Election Commission slapped a show cause notice on the president of West Bengal Board of Primary Education Manik Bhattacharya for allegedly assuring jobs to Trinamool Congress workers during a poll campaign in South Dinajpur district.
The opposition CPI(M) lodged a complaint with the EC recently and the matter drew attention of the full bench of the poll panel on April 6.
The show cause notice was issued to Bhattacharya asking him to reply within two days.
The Commission would initiate appropriate action on the basis of his reply, state’s chief electoral officer Sunil Gupta said.
During a recent election campaign at Balurghat in South Dinajpur district, Bhattacharya had allegedly said, “We are providing jobs to the TMC cadres. Tomorrow also we shall do it. The day after tomorrow we shall be going to provide jobs to them. I am ready to go to jail if there is corruption in it.”
The complaint against Bhattacharya said, “Promising jobs to TMC supporters and workers irrespective of merit was an utter violation of the Model Code of Conduct and a criminal offense by someone who is an authority in matters relating to primary education.”
Posted in States
