Mamata wants central forces for panchayat polls in July

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government is likely to utilise central forces posted in Maoist-hit Jangalmahal district for the panchayat polls in July, after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's initial reluctance. The para-military jawans are in Jangalmahal since 2011. Even with this, there will be a shortfall of around 40,000 troops to meet the State Election Commission's demand.

Banerjee had opposed the state election commission's demand for use of central forces but with neighbouring states refusing to provide any troops, following the Bastar carnage, Banerjee has been forced to go for central force.

A senior West Bengal home department official told reporters in Kolkata on Wednesday that the state government has sought 300 companies of central forces. "We want the Centre to send 300 companies of its forces for 15 days from June 28," the official said. The three-phase panchayat elections will begin from July 2. The last round of elections will take place on July 9, and results will be declared on July 13. The state government will have to bear 60.30 crore cost for the central forces.

As per state election commission's estimate, 1.20 lakh security personnel would be required for the elections. The state government has 50,000. Of the remaining 70,000, if the Centre sends 30,000 jawans, the deficit will come down to 40,000. The state government is clueless on how to make up for the shortfall.

The State Election Commission is naturally unhappy with the shortfall. A senior official of the commission told ET on Wednesday that it will write to the state government seeking a clarification regarding deployment of armed forces.

Even as the poll process began, stray cases of violence were reported from different parts of the state. Wednesday was the first day for filing nominations for the first phase of the panchayat polls. State Congress president Pradip Bhattacharjee met governor MK Narayanan to complain against the ruling Trinamool Congress.

"The ruling party prevented many of our candidates from filing nomination papers in East Midnapore and Burdwan districts," Bhattacharjee alleged. "In many places, Trinamool Congress activists prevented our candidates from collecting nomination papers too," he complained. CPM has also complained about 'Trinamool-sponsored terrorism' in many parts of the state, including Howrah over filing of nomination papers.