Friday, October 21 2005 20:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Advising the Election Commission to guard against 'Seshanitis', coined after the former Chief Election Commissioner T N Seshan, CPI-M Politburo member Sitaram Yechury today (Oct 21, 2005) said large deployment of security forces during the first phase of Bihar polls on October 18 had led to poor voter turnout.

''The EC should be wary of getting inflicted by Seshanitis. The unusually large deployment of policemen resulted in very low voter turnout in the first phase. After all, it is the police who quell the people's struggles. The strikes by workers,'' he told a press conference while adding at the same time that he 'indeed' wanted the poll body to take every step to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls.

When asked whether he was accusing the EC of being responsible for the low voting percentage, Yechuri said, ''I am not raising an accusing finger (at EC) but fingers are being raised nonetheless. The EC should see to it that nothing is done that creates fear in the minds of the electorate.''

Referring to the recent transfer of an IG and DIG of CRPF by the orders of the EC for meeting RJD President Lalu Prasad, he said, ''I don't think it is proper to shift any officer merely on the ground that he met a political leader to discuss security of his premises.''

''The EC should have a balanced approach so that nobody raises an accusing finger at it. It should guard against Seshanitis,'' he said.

Prasad had said IG Arun Chibber and DIG Alok Raj had come to meet him to discuss enhancing security at his house by CRPF, which is already deployed there.