Thirty companies of Central forces for November 19 Bengal by-polls

KOLKATA: Altogether thirty companies of para-military forces would be deployed during the November 19 by-elections to two lok sabha and one assembly seat in Bengal, a senior official of the state election commission said on Tuesday. "We are expecting Central forces in reach Bengal within a day or two. They will be patrolling the two lok sabhas of Cooch Behar and Tamluk and one assembly seat of Manteswar. Central forces would also be deployed in all the polling stations of the three constituencies," the official said.

In Cooch Behar, a maximum of ten candidates are in the fray. All the key political parties---Trinamool Congress, BJP, Forward Bloc and Congress have fielded their candidates in this constituency. By-elections in this seat has been necessitated following death of former Trinamool Congress MP Renuka Sinha.

At the Tamluk lok sabha constituency, seven candidates are fighting the by-polls. At the Manteswar assembly seat, six candidates are in the fray. Tamluk lok sabha seat fell vacant following resignation of the former Trinamool Congress MP Suvendu Adhikari, who won this year's Assembly elections from Nandigram seat and now a minister in Mamata Banerjee's government.

The Manteswar assembly seat also fell vacant following the demise of former Trinamool Congress legislator Sajal Panja. The ruling party has fielded his son Saikat for this by-elec tions. Results will be announced on November 22.