Kolkata: Security has been significantly enhanced at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence as well as the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’ in Howrah, PTI reported.
The move came in response to an Election Commission of India (ECI) order, triggered by reports of crowds assembling near her home and chanting ‘Jai Sree Ram’ slogans, according to a senior police official.
The BJP is headed for a landmark maiden electoral victory in West Bengal, with a sensational two-thirds majority.
As per ECI data at 7 pm, the saffron party is winning/leading in 204 out of 293 Assembly constituencies. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had won a third straight term in 2021 with 213 seats, has been relegated to 83 (winning/leading at 7 pm).
Heightened security measures were extended to the state secretariat, reflecting broader concerns amid the unfolding election results.
“Central forces have been deployed around Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence and state secretariat after we got reports that a group of people reached there and raised slogans. We do not want any disruption of law and order,” the police official.
“We will not take any chance, and anyone trying to break the peace will face strict action,” he added.
ECI has ordered police not to allow victory rallies for any political party on Monday, focusing on upholding law and order statewide amid rising sensitivities. Victory processions will be permitted from Tuesday, that too, in an orderly manner.
