Wednesday, April 5 2006 15:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: CPI(M) today (Apr 05, 2006) charged an EC observer of initiating raids on its offices in Maoist-infested areas with the help of security personnel and workers of Trinamool Congress.

In a written statement CPI(M)'s state secretary Biman Bose alleged that the 'raids' last night in party offices at Keshpur area of West Midnapur district of the state was "one-sided, unnecessary, partial, undemocratic and dictatorial."

"Trinamool Congress workers were present at the time of the raids, which were conducted at the instance of the EC observer, by personnel of the Punjab Police and Rapid Action Force with the purpose of terrorising Left Front workers," Bose said.

The CEC Tandon, who is arriving here tonight accompanied by deputy R Balakrishnan, is scheduled to visit Maoist-hit West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts to review the final preparations of poll to be held there in the first phase of assembly elections on April 17.

The CPI(M) leader called for protest against the 'high-handedness' of EC while urging the Commission to restrain its observers from issuing directives for raids on party offices.

The accusation by CPI(M) comes in the wake of EC issuing a directive to file a complaint against senior CPI(M) leader and Transport minister Subhash Chakraborty for allegedly making threatening statements against government officials on poll duty.