Deployment of forces will depend on availability: Zutshi

As opposition Congress and BJP demanded deployment of central forces in West Bengal from the day of notification of the Lok Sabha poll, the Election Commission today said it would depend on the availability of such forces, though all options are open.
"Elections will be held throughout the country. Such deployment will depend on the availability of central forces. But all options are open," Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi told a press conference here.
Zutshi, who held an all-party meeting during his visit here, however, evaded a direct reply regarding the law and order situation in the state.
"The Commission's aim is to create a situation conducive to holding the Lok Sabha poll in a free and fair manner," he said.

Asked if the Commission will take lessons from the conflict between the West Bengal government and the State Election Commission during last year's panchayat election, he said, "We will take lessons from all elections held here since 2009 as well as the panchayat poll. We want to conduct the Lok Sabha election in an even better way than 2009," he said.
Apart from holding meeting with political parties, Zutshi also held meetings with senior civil and police officers.