Mamata's handpicked election panel chief wants deployment of central forces for civic polls

KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had handpicked one West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) officer Sushanta Ranjan Upadahya to head the state election body, hoping that he will follow the state government's decisions regarding holding of civic elections without raising any objections.

The chief minister had to face severe criticisms from her opposition for appointing the WBCS officer as the commissioner of the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC). Usually, senior IAS officers hold the post of the WBSEC commissioner, but Mamata made a deviation by not appointing any senior IAS officer.

Upadhaya recently wrote a letter to the state government, asking it for requisite central forces for the civic elections to be held on April 18 and 25. The chief minister herself was opposed to the idea of deploying central forces for the polls as she felt that her own state police were competent enough to handle law and order situations.

Sources at Nabanna, the state administrative headquarters, said that the chief minister had ultimately agreed to Upadhaya's proposal after senior bureaucrats like the chief secretary and home secretary convinced her about deployment of central forces during this month's civic elections. Informed sources also said that the chief minister was displeased with Upadhaya as he had sought for central forces, but ultimately agreed to his proposal as top bureaucrats also felt that deployment of paramilitary jawans for civic elections was very essential.

Nabanna sources said the state has sought central forces for civic polls on April 18 and 25.