BJP demands central forces at all polling booths, media observer in Bengal

The BJP also demanded that a media observer be appointed for the state.

'We have demanded that the state of West Bengal should be declared as super-sensitive state. We've also demanded that central forces be deployed at all polling booths,' Prasad told reporters after the meeting.

Prasad was accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, National General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav and Kailash Vijayvargiya, the party incharge of West Bengal.

'We have conveyed to the Election Commission that Bengal's track record in free and fair election is very deplorable. Recently, 100 people were killed during local body and gram panchayat polls,' he said.

Civic police is appointed in West Bengal which acts as Trinamool Congress' activists, Prasad said, adding that all deployment be done under the supervision of central observers.

There is no freedom for media also in West Bengal, Mr Prasad said, adding that 'media should be freely available to all. It is important for democracy'.

'We have demanded that a media observer be appointed for Bengal,' he said.

There is circular of 1986, according to that there should be no loud speakers in school and bungalows and near religious places, but this is of no use now because exams are over, Prasad said.

'Political parties are being stopped from campaigning by the Trinamool Congress citing this circular which is wrong and unfortunate.

'Bengal has a history of violence. This is Lok Sabha election for India 's democracy and decide country's future,' he said and expressed hope that honest and unbiased elections are held in the country.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced the list of Trinamool Congress candidates for all the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, dropping 10 current parliamentarians. Allotting 41 per cent of the tickets to women, the list included a number of Bengali celebrities like Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan. 

Image Credit: UNI