Kolkata: On the second day of their West Bengal visit, the full bench of Election Commission of India (ECI) held meetings with leaders of all political parties.
During his talks with the three-member ECI — Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, and Election commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar — BJP’s state chief Dilip Ghosh demanded immediate deployment of central forces in West Bengal. Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee, on the other hand, alleged that the BSF is intimidating people in border areas so that they vote for BJP.
Left Front leaders expressed their dissatisfaction over the voter list whereas Congress leaders requested the commission to deploy central forces in all booths to ensure free and fair election in the state.
“The deployment of central forces can give the common people of the state confidence to go out and vote. The state police and civic volunteers are pets of the ruling Trinamool Congress. So central forces are needed to ensure free and fair election,” argued Ghosh.
“BSF is intimidating people to vote for BJP. This is undemocratic and should be stopped,” said education minister Chatterjee.
The TMC leader’s comment was rubbished by the BSF.
“BSF is a professional border guarding force which has in the past, and also presently, guarded our international borders with total sincerity and dedication. We have actively checked illegal infiltration and smuggling, and brought to the book criminals involved in such activities. The statements made by Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and Rural and Development Minister Firhad Hakim, levelling allegations against BSF are without any basis and far from the truth. BSF stands firmly committed to its motto ‘Duty unto death’ at all times.”
It has been learnt from sources that the ECI won’t allow civic and green police to execute any election-related duty in West Bengal.
