Bengal could have asked for Central forces: Somnath

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee questioned the West Bengal government’s decision to ask for additional police forces from other States for the rural polls scheduled for May 14.

“Now they (State government) are asking for forces from other States and nobody knows why only four to five States were selected for the purpose. Instead of asking other States, the government could have asked the Centre for Central forces,” Mr. Chatterjee told journalists on Sunday.

He also questioned the State Election Commission’s decision to hold the panchayat elections in one day on May 14.

Mr. Chatterjee said that States providing additional police force was “not known” and was a “surprise”. “The size of the forces is also not known...I have never heard such a thing before,” he said.

His comments came days after State Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purkayastha said they have contacted four to five States for additional forces for polling day.

‘Influenced by govt.’

As for the role of State Election Commissioner A. K. Singh, Mr. Chatterjee alleged that he (Mr. Singh) “was not working independently and was working under the influence of the State government”.

In the panchayat polls in 2003 during the Left Front era, 11% seats went uncontested. Then the Opposition parties alleged that they could not put candidates due to the coercive tactics of the CPI(M).