TMC averse to central forces as rigging plan may not work: BJP

The West Bengal BJP Friday alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress is averse to deployment of central forces during the Lok Sabha elections as its plans to rig the polls might not work in their presence.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh also sought to shift focus from filmstar candidates of the TMC, saying people do not want part-time politicians.

"It is an irony that the Trinamool Congress is now averse to deployment of central forces. Earlier, when it was in opposition, it used to demand that central forces be deployed everywhere in the state. Now the TMC is opposing it since the party is afraid that its plans to rig the polls might fall flat," Ghosh told reporters.

Referring to the violence during the panchayat elections in the state last year, Ghosh said the Election Commission should ensure that all voters are allowed to vote freely and fairly.

The BJP leader's comment comes in the backdrop of the TMC beginning a 48-hour-long sit-in against the BJP's alleged attempt to malign West Bengal by urging the Election Commission to declare all booths in the state as "super sensitive".

The BJP had also demanded that central forces be deployed at all polling stations in the state.

On the TMC nominating filmstars in various seats, Ghosh wondered whether the party has dearth of seasoned politicians to contest the polls.

"It seems the TMC does not have seasoned politicians to contest the polls. People of the state need representatives who are serious about their development and not part-time politicians," Ghosh said.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has fielded five film stars, including two greenhorns, for the coming Lok Sabha elections in Bengal. The other three are sitting MPs.

In the 2014 general elections, Banerjee had fielded the same number of cinestars and all the five had won.

West Bengal will go to seven-phase polling beginning April 11.