WP Polls: Wife Of TMC Candidate Files Complaint Against Deputy Election Commissioner

Wife of Trinamool Congress (TMC) party's candidate from Kardaha seat who died of COVID-19 earlier this week, has not filed a police complaint against Deputy Election Commissioner for alleged mishandling the safety of candidates and the public during the pandemic.

The candidate named Kajal Sinha died of COVID-19 complications on April 25. The news of his demise was shared by West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media. While offering her condolences to Sinha's family, she wrote, " He dedicated his life to serving people & just fought a tireless campaign."

His wife Nandita Sinha lodged a complaint against Sudip Jain, the Deputy Election Commissioner of India. She alleged that he did not ensure the 'safety of candidates or the general public during the pandemic'.

West Bengal: Nandita Sinha, wife of TMC candidate from Khardaha Kajal Sinha who died of COVID-19, lodges police complaint against Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain & other officials for allegedly not ensuring 'safety of candidates or general public during ongoing pandemic'.

— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2021

The Election Commission has been under fire after the cases started to surge in India in April. What is being called the second wave of COVID-19 has now claimed many lives with the number of cases soaring high every day.

Recently, the Madras High Court reprimanded the agency for allowing public rallies during a pandemic. The high court even said that the commission should be booked under the charges of murder. Justice Banerjee said, "Your institution is singularly responsible for the second wave of Covid-19. Election Commission officers should be booked on murder charges probably," one judge said.

The Election Commission was also asked to not count the votes if a "blueprint" to ensure the safety of people in terms of the pandemic is not in place by Friday. Acting as per the order, the commission announced on Wednesday that no candidate will be allowed to enter counting centres without a negative RT-PCR report or full vaccination reports.

While giving its ruling on Election Commission, the Madras High Court judge had said, "Public health is paramount. Distressing that constitutional authorities ought to be reminded. It is only when a citizen survives that he'll be able to enjoy the rights that a democratic republic guarantees."