NANDIGRAM POLL OFFICER GIVEN SECURITY, BENGAL GOVT TELLS EC

NEW DELHI:

The West Bengal government has informed the Election Commission of India (ECI) that it has provided security to the returning officer of the Nandigram assembly constituency which saw a cliffhanger between Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee and BJP’S Suvendu Adhikari, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Banerjee lost by 1,956 votes to former protege-turned-bjp adversary Adhikari. On Monday, the TMC leader alleged that the returning officer of Nandigram did not order recounting of votes even after she demanded it as he feared for his life.

People familiar with the matter said the returning officer was provided security in person and at his home on the directions of ECI, amid reports that he was under pressure while performing his duty.