Supreme Court rejects TMC's plea on state govt representative among counting officials after EC's assurances

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by the Trinamool Congress after the Election Commission assured the top court that state government representatives will be part of the vote counting process in West Bengal. The poll panel's circular provides for a mix of central and state government employees in the counting process, which the court said was not contrary to law. The Election Commission has the discretion to appoint counting personnel from either pool, dismissing the TMC's apprehension of bias.