Kolkata, 09 March (H.S.): Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar visited the famous Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata on Monday morning during his three-day tour of West Bengal, even as a group of protesters demonstrated outside the shrine and raised slogans against the Election Commission.

Kumar was accompanied by West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal during the visit.

Protesters gathered outside the temple premises before the chief election commissioner arrived and waved black flags while raising slogans against the Election Commission and the ongoing special revision of electoral rolls.

They alleged that names of several voters had been removed from the rolls during the special revision process and expressed their anger in front of the visiting official.

Amid the protest, Kumar entered the temple and offered prayers. He did not make any comment at the time.

Speaking briefly to reporters after coming out of the temple, he said, “My greetings to all the brothers and sisters of West Bengal. May Goddess Kali bless everyone.”

When asked about the protest, he did not respond and left the venue.

The full bench of the Election Commission had arrived in Kolkata on Sunday night for a three-day visit to the state.

Besides Kumar, the delegation includes Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

The commission is scheduled to hold a meeting with representatives of various political parties later in the day. It will also meet senior officials of the state administration, including the chief secretary and the director general of police.

Sources said Kumar may also visit the Belur Math later in the day after offering prayers at the Kalighat temple.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey