BJP asks SEC to write to union home ministry requesting for

After promising to bring in central forces for the municipal polls in West Bengal, the BJP state leadership today pleaded with State Election Commissioner S R Upadhyay to directly write to the Union Home Ministry requesting for central forces.
State BJP president Rahul Sinha had last week said that he had spoken to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and that Singh had promised to send central forces for the polls.
Sinha's comment sparked off a controversy as both the ruling TMC, the CPI(M) and the Congress have questioned the constitutional authority to make such a comment.
"We have carefully noted your helplessness. The state government is in no mood to bring central forces for holding a free and fair municipal election. We request you for the sake of a free and fair election to write directly to the Union Home Minister requesting for central forces," state BJP general secretary Ashim Sarkar said in a letter.

"If you so desire, we can pursue your demand with the Union home minister," Sarkar added.
Although, the BJP requested the SEC to write, SEC S R Upadahyay said he did not have the authority to ask the Centre to send central forces.
"The SEC doesn't have the authority to write to the Centre seeking central forces. We can write to the state government. Now it is for the state government to write to the Centre," he said.