Election Commission deploys 100 per cent central forces in West Bengal for Lok Sabha polls
Kolkata, May 1 (IBNS): After the occurrence of violence in the first four phases of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday deployed central forces in all polling booths of the state for the remaining three phases of the elections, media reports said.
Hence, no state police will be present in the polling booths on May 6, 12 and 19 when the state will go to elections again.
As many as 660 companies of Central Armed Police Force will be there at all booths to maintain the law and order.
The development comes after poll personnel had threatened to boycott the elections unless central forces are deployed.
While elections took place peacefully in the entire nation, West Bengal witnessed violence in each of the polling days so far.
Violence in West Bengal
During the third phase, one Congress worker had also died.
The victim, Piarul Abul Kalam, was standing in the queue at Ranitala Baligram booth to cast his ballot when the rival supporters of Trinamool Congress and Congress activists involved in fighting with bamboo, clubs and other weapons near Bhagobangola.
In the fourth phase, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Asansol candidate Babul Supriyo's car was vandalised.
BJP welcomes EC's decision
The BJP, which has been demanding 100 per cent deployment of central forces, has welcomed the EC's decision.
"We want the elections to be free and fair," state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh told a news channel.
Setback for Mamata Banerjee?
The EC's decision can be viewed as a setback for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who repeatedly stated law and order is a state subject.
Banerjee was also angry upon central forces for firing inside a polling booth in Birbhum district during the fourth phase of elections.
She had also alleged that the central forces are urging people to cast their votes in favour of the BJP, which is fast emerging as the main opponent to West Bengal's ruling party Trinamool, which is led by Banerjee.
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