Monday, March 20 2006 16:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Asserting that cleaning up of the electoral rolls in West Bengal is a "great priority", Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon today (Mar 20 2006) said as many as 13 lakh "dead and shifted" voters have been deleted from the rolls ahead of the five-phased assembly polls.

Talking to sources after addressing over 350 poll observers appointed for the state, he said the Commission has given specific instructions to the poll officials that not a single eligible voter should be left out of the rolls.

Tandon said as many as 21 lakh new names have also been added to the rolls in the massive exercise carried out.

"We have impressed upon observers to give an excellent performance to enable the Commission reach the high benchmark set in the elections", the CEC said.

The observers have been asked to ensure that they would constantly review execution of non-bailable warrants, recovery of illicit arms and collection of licenses arms from undesirable elements.

They would also ensure that preventive arrests are made totally objectively and on merits, he said adding the commission has asked the CEO to make voting compartment using only cardboard and not to place them near windows or doors in order to maintain secrecy of ballots.

The observers have told them to enforce the model code of conduct strictly and take strict action against violators of the code, Tandon said.

Notifications for the first phase of polling in the state would be issued on March 24.