Bengal poll panel chief tenders resignation

Kolkata, Oct 6  Putting into uncertainty the fate of the recently-held polls to four civic bodies, West Bengal State Election Commissioner S.R. Upadhyay on Tuesday tendered his resignation.

Upadhyay, who has been facing severe criticism from opposition parties over the violence-marred polls to the municipal corporations of Bidhannagar, Asansol and parts of Howrah held on Saturday, tendered his resignation to Governor K.N. Tripathi.

Confirming the move, Tripathi said he has forwarded the resignation for the views of the Mamata Banerjee led state government.

"The state election commissioner came to me and handed over his resignation. I received his resignation and he pressed for it. I have sent the resignation letter for the comments of the government. I am yet to receive the views of the government," Tripathi told media persons.

Asked if he asked Upadhyay to continue, he said no.

The move comes a day after Upadhyay announced the vote count for the three civic bodies that was on Sunday put on hold following mounting protests over allegations of violence and rampant malpractices will be done on October 9.

The SEC on Sunday had announced the vote count scheduled Wednesday, was being postponed indefinitely too look into the allegations of malpractices.

The SEC's Monday decision of announcing the new date of counting came barely hours after the ruling Trinamool Congress staged a demonstration at the panel's office demanding the counting be held as scheduled on Wednesday and threatened to intensify the stir if its demand was not met.