West Bengal likely to get 17 special observers for last phase

West Bengal is likely to have as many as 17 additional special observers to monitor the fifth and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections May 12 spanning eight districts in the state.

According to Election Commission's special observer for the state Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, the initiative is a confidence building measure for the electorate as well as for the candidates and the political parties. "This is a confidence building measure. We have requested the Commission and it will confirm the status by Saturday night," Rakesh told media persons here.

As many as 17 constituencies will witness polling May 12. Rakesh also stressed on the documentation of flag marches and area domination activities of the Commission for the fifth phase, which has already begun. He also informed about the repoll in Bankura's Sonamukhi assembly segment where an FIR has been registered against Trinamool Congress legislator on allegations of false voting during the May 7 polls. As many as 10 people have been arrested in the matter and police are on the lookout for the others named in the first information report.

Deepali Saha, the MLA from Sonamukhi, is reportedly absconding.