Kolkata: The fate of around 60 lakh voters remains uncertain as the Election Commission of India is yet to clarify when the supplementary electoral roll will be published. Responding to a specific query on Wednesday, a senior EC official only said that the Commission would follow the directions of the Supreme Court of India, without providing any timeline for the publication of the list. “The SC passed its order, which will be followed,” the official said.EC officials will hold a meeting with Chief Justice of the Calcutta HC Justice Sujoy Paul on Thursday, sources said. The discussion may focus on the supplementary electoral roll and the formation of tribunals after the SC order.The SC, in its order on Tuesday, said, “In so far as the issue of publication of the supplementary lists is concerned, both sides shall be at liberty to approach Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the High Court at Calcutta for the publication of the supplementary list of the persons whose objections already stand disposed of. Once the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the High Court at Calcutta makes recommendations to this effect, the Election Commission of India shall do the needful immediately.” Meanwhile, the EC directed the central forces to visit every booth area in the state by March 14 as part of an area-domination and confidence-building exercise ahead of the assembly elections. “We emphasised maintaining coordination between the central forces and the state police. The central forces come to help and assist the state police. A mechanism for coordination has been prepared, and a standard operating procedure (SOP) has been put in place,” the EC official said.The Commission also conducted a training programme on Wednesday for senior police officers, including ASPs, DSPs, Jt CPs and DCPs, in preparation for the upcoming assembly elections in Bengal.
