EC functioning like a puppet in BJP’s hands: CPM

Cases were booked against Opposition parties for violating the code of conduct even if a candidate garlanded a statue, Balakrishnan told reporters here.

The party would soon submit a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on the need to change the election officers working for long in the same post and appoint new officers for free and fair functioning, Balakrishnan said.

On allotment of symbols to parties, the Election Commission was following double standards, the Left leader said, adding that this proved that it was functioning like a puppet in the hands of the ruling party at the Centre.

The Left leader also hit out at BJP Tamil Nadu president Tamilisai Soundararajan, who is contesting from Thoothukudi, for saying that the police firing in the district over the Sterlite issue that left 13 dead was to save 1,000 people who had gathered there.