WBSEC to write to state govt on availability of central forces

Uncertain about availability of central forces in the coming civic polls in the state, West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) will write a letter to the state government for details on what transpired after it assured to take up the issue with the Centre.
"We are going to write a letter to the state government on whether it had received any communication from the Centre regarding availability of central forces for their deployment in the ensuing civic polls in the state," State Election Commissioner Susanta Ranjan Upadhyay told reporters here.
"We shall also ask the state government if it had any communication at all with the Centre on the issue and in case of any communication how many companies will be available and from which date," Upadhyay said.

He said state home secretary Basudeb Banerjee had in a letter to him on March 25 said the state government had no objection in deploying central forces for the civic polls in the state.
"The matter is being taken up with the centre. This will be intimated to you in due course of time," he said quoting the letter.
The Commission also hinted at the requirement of at least 100 companies of central forces for free, fair and peaceful civic polls. "Since the polling date is getting closer, we should know details about availability of the central forces for appropriate planning for their deployment," he said.

Election to the 144-seat Kolkata Municipal Corporation is slated for April 18, while polls to 91 municipalities across the state would be held on April 25.

These elections are seen as a trial of strength of the major political parties before the state assembly election due in May next year.
Opposition parties in West Bengal have been demanding deployment of central forces for the municipal elections in the state.
To a question, Upadhayay said that altogether 106 poll observers, 15 in KMC and the rest 91 in other civic bodies, have already been deployed.
WBSEC, he said, is contemplating a move to relax the poll campaign using loud speakers after April 2 within a stipulated time-frame.

Loud speakers or microphones were banned because of various examinations being held during this period.