Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote chief election commissioner Sunil Arora, urging him to ensure that the final phase of polling on Sunday was completed “peacefully, impartially and without undue interference of the central government and the ruling party at the Centre”.

The Trinamul chief, who has been critical of the poll panel and its decisions on Bengal, wrote to Arora on her official letterhead as chief minister.

“Tomorrow is the final phase of election in West Bengal, which has seen a number of illegal, unconstitutional and biased decisions during the election process because of undue influence of the central government and the ruling party at the Centre. As a result, not only the state government and its officers but also the common people of the state have been harassed and attacked in various manner,” Mamata wrote.

She pointed to last week’s violence during BJP chief Amit Shah’s road show in Calcutta that resulted in the smashing of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar’s bust. “It may be recalled that all evidence shows the road show of the BJP president…was permitted by way of withdrawing Section 144 in the area by the new commissioner of police appointed by the Election Commission,” she wrote.

The road show was “itself a criminal conspiracy to vandalise the culture and heritage of Kolkata” and “defame the West Bengal government and its people”, Mamata wrote.

She concluded with the request for the final phase of polls. “I would request you to kindly protect democratic institutions and the federal structure of the country and extend due respect to the Opposition parties.”