``At least three months before the Assembly elections, the Election Commission should take over the whole process to avoid scientific rigging and identity cards should be compulsorily used,'' Panja said in an interview to UNI yesterday.

Panja, who was here to inaugurate the 63rd Durga puja celebrations of the Bengal Club at Shivaji Park, Dadar, said the law and order situation, and the administrative machinery of the government led by Chief Minister Jyoti Basu had deteriorated and, ``if elections were impartial, free and fair'' the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Government will not come to power again''.

Panja pointed out that nothing was possible without the approval of local CPI (M) committees -- be it on water supply, gas connections or school admissions.