SEC unhappy at inadequate central forces for KMC poll

The West Bengal Election Commission today said only three companies of central forces had been made available against the demand of 50 companies for the April 18 Kolkata Municipal Corporation poll.
State Election Commissioner S R Upadhyay said the three companies had been brought from Darjeeling where they were deployed along with five other companies.
Expressing unhappiness at the inadequate central forces, the SEC said, "Such a small contingent could only be utilised for route march or area domination, specially in the sensitive pockets.
Upadhyay said this could create a gap in confidence building measures for the poll.
"Finally only three companies of central forces have been made available for the KMC civic poll against our requirement of 50 company central forces. So there could be a gap in confidence building measures," Upadhyay said.

He pointed out that in the prevailing situation and violence still taking place across the city, the SEC was left with no other alternatives but to conduct the election with the forces available from the Kolkata police and state police.

Upadhyay said that he had already drawn up a force deployment strategy in consultation with top officials of the city police.
Upadhyay said that he had also called on Governor K N Tripathi to apprise him of the entire arrangement and steps taken to instill confidence among people for casting their votes without any fear.
Upadhyay said the Governor had advised him to ensure that the election process including law and order situation was monitored effectively in all respect.

The SEC has informed the Governor of some recent incidents of violence including attack on BJP leader Rupa Ganguly and armed threat in the Cossipore area in north Kolkata.
"So far 80 cases of violence have been lodged with the police in Kolkata alone, besides 150 cases of violence registered with state police ahead of the civic polls to 91 municipalities on April 25," Upadhyay said.
To a question, Upadhyay said that in all cases steps had either been taken by the police administration, or the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) cautioned the concerned candidate or political party directly.