Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, November 9, 2024, Kolkata: As West Bengal prepares for by-elections in six constituencies on Wednesday, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has raised serious concerns about the deployment of central forces at polling stations. In a formal complaint to the Election Commission, the TMC alleges that the presence of central forces is intimidating voters and is being used to favor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ruling party claims that the central forces have been deployed under the influence of the BJP, undermining the fairness of the elections.
In its complaint, the Trinamool Congress highlighted that central forces, unfamiliar with the local context, are creating an atmosphere of fear among ordinary voters. The party argued that local police should accompany the central forces at every polling station to ensure proper coordination and avoid any unnecessary intimidation. “Central forces lack the local knowledge and face language barriers, which can lead to a breakdown in communication and cause undue distress to the electorate,” the TMC’s letter to the Election Commission read.
To further address their concerns, a five-member delegation of TMC Members of Parliament (MPs)—Sudeep Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Saket Gokhale, Sushmita Dev, and Kirti Azad—visited the Election Commission’s office in Delhi. The MPs pressed for swift action, urging the Commission to address the issue before the by-elections take place.
Apart from this, the TMC has also demanded swift action against BJP state president and Union Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumder, over controversial remarks he made recently. Dr. Majumder allegedly told police personnel at Onvar police station, “Don’t wear police uniforms and become brokers for Trinamool. If you do, take off your cap and the Ashoka Pillar around your neck and put on a hawai chappal symbol instead.”
The Trinamool Congress has condemned these comments as an insult to both the state police force and the national symbol of the Ashoka Pillar. The party has called for legal action against Majumder for his offensive remarks and has demanded that he be removed from his ministerial post. “These remarks are a direct affront to the integrity of the state police and an insult to the Ashoka Pillar, a symbol of India’s sovereignty and unity,” said a TMC spokesperson.
With the by-elections just days away, political tensions in the state are running high. The TMC’s allegations against the central forces and their demand for action against Dr. Majumder are likely to further intensify the already charged atmosphere surrounding the polls.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the Election Commission to see how it responds to these concerns and whether any action is taken against those accused of violating electoral norms and disrespecting national symbols.