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Media ban on WB polls lifted

In a dramatic reversal of its decision, the West Bengal Election Commission Friday night withdrew its order barring entry of mediapersons into polling booths during the June 25 elections to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation.

The State Election Commission issued the fresh order in the wake of protests from media circles as well as opposition by the Left Front government.

The Calcutta high court earlier upheld the commission's order rejecting the petitions of two mediamen challenging the SEC's decision to bar entry of newsmen into polling booths.

The commission said it would issue passes from its office tomorrow.

The commission's earlier decision sparked off widespread protests from the Calcutta Press Club and the Indian Journalists' Association which condemned the move as ''undemocratic'' and demanded its immediate revocation.

The order also came in for sharp criticism by the state's Deputy Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and the state Communist Party of India Marxist secretary Anil Biswas who described its ''unwarranted''.

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