Unlucky: CEC Sunil Arora on TMC allegation that BSF is coercing voters

A day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) members alleged that the Border Safety Drive (BSF) is forcing folks to vote for one occasion, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora mentioned considerations of political events in West Bengal concerning the legislation and order scenario within the state throughout electioneering for the upcoming polls might be addressed by guaranteeing optimum deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

Additionally Learn: Election Fee to go to West Bengal to overview ballot preparedness

"We had an in-depth interaction with political parties. Most had concerns about the law and order situation. They spoke of high voltage electioneering which could precipitate into political violence and threaten to vitiate the electoral process," he mentioned. "The political parties wanted optimal deployment of CAPFs. Some political parties also cited anomalies in the electoral rolls," he added.

After consultations with the Chief Secretary, DGP and House Secretary of West Bengal, the Election Fee of India (ECI) additionally determined that there might be no civic police and inexperienced police volunteers close to any polling station.

Terming TMC's allegations 'unlucky', the CEC mentioned the BSF was one of many best forces. "It is unfortunate that a party made averments about the BSF. I have asked for concrete instances. They (BSF) are one of the finest forces in the country. There is no point in castigating any force, ad nauseam," he mentioned. 

Additionally Learn | 'Whoever contests from Nandigram...': Suvendu Adhikari's new problem

The total bench of the ECI is in West Bengal to take inventory of the preparedness, and legislation and order scenario within the poll-bound jap state. On Thursday, the officers held a gathering with numerous political events, throughout which TMC leaders alleged that the BSF was intimidating folks in border areas of West Bengal to solid their votes in favour of a 'specific political occasion'.

In the meantime, Bengal Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) chief Dilip Ghosh urged the ECI to deploy Central Forces within the state on the earliest claiming there's a 'sense of concern' amongst folks forward of elections. 

Legislative Meeting elections for 294 seats of the state are scheduled to be held within the subsequent few months.

(with company inputs)