Bengal IPS officer Nagendra Tripathi conferred EC award

Kolkata, Jan 26: West Bengal IPS officer Nagendra Tripathi, who told Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that he would "not let any black spot on his police uniform", along with two IAS officers and another IPS officer of the state, were on Tuesday conferred the National Awards for the Best Electoral Practices for 2021-22 for their efficiency in conducting the Assembly polls last year.

Tripathi, who was posted on special duty for the polling at Nandigram where Trinamool Congress Chairperson Banerjee was pitted against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari had made the statement to her when she complained of rigging in several booths.

Apart from him, District Magistrate, Howrah, Mukta Arya, North 24 Parganas DM Sumit Gupta, and SP East Burdwan Kamanasish Sen, who was SP, Baruipur police district during the polls, were awarded at the NVD programme organised by Election Commission in New Delhi.

Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju was present at the programme as the guest of honour while Vice President Venkaiah Naidu attended virtually.

At the state level programme held at Bhasa Bhavan, three District Magistrates received awards from Chief Secretary H.K Dwivedi who was the Chief Guest.

DM, Nadia, Shashank Sethi was felicitated for his role in electoral roll cleansing, DM, Bankura, K. Radhika Aiyer for her role in voter awareness activities and DM, Jalpaiguri, Moumita Godara Basu for online registration.

The Chief Secretary lauded the CEO's office and the entire election machinery for ensuing a high percentage voting in West Bengal than most other states where the overall vote percentage is around 55 per cent. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the voter turnout in Bengal was 82 per cent - far ahead than major states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh that had 64 per cent and 59 per cent voting, respectively, in their last Assembly polls.