Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she expected that state and central forces would work together properly to ensure free and fair conduct of the eight-phase Assembly polls in Bengal, the message was a reiteration of the Trinamul Congress narrative that the paramilitary personnel often try to favour the BJP because of instructions from Delhi.
“I want the central and state forces to work together properly… It should not happen that forces coming from Delhi are sent with an instruction,” the chief minister said on Friday while announcing the Trinamul candidate list for 291 Assembly segments in the state from her residence at Kalighat here.
“We notice that some people are working according to the instructions given from the BJP office. This should not happen. We want an impartial election. We want free and fair polls,” she added.
A section of state government officials said Mamata’s comment would send a smart message to the Election Commission at a time it was planning to give free hand to the central forces after their deployment in sensitive areas in Bengal.
“For example, it has been decided that quick response teams would be led by central force commandants and not state police officers. Moreover, deployment of central forces would largely depend on the opinion of police observers. The chief minister perhaps wanted to highlight these issues,” said a source.
Trinamul insiders said the top brass of the party was worried over the roles to be played by the central forces.
Sudeep Jain
“During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the central forces deployed at booths and in other areas took care of the complaints lodged by the BJP but ignored the grievances of Trinamul. This should not happen this time,” said a Trinamul MLA.
Sources close to the chief minister said she had raised questions about the impartiality of the central forces and also some EC officials ahead of the polls very tactically as that would put the poll panel under pressure.
“In 2019, the EC had taken several steps, including removal of officials and deployment of central forces based on the complaints lodged by the BJP. This time, the chief minister aired her concerns about the impartiality of some EC officials very tactically so that the poll panel thinks twice before initiating steps based on the complaints of the BJP,” said a source.
As the EC removed the ADG (law and order), Jawed Shamim — known as an upright officer — within 24 hours of the election dates being declared, the ruling establishment has become apprehensive of more changes in key positions ahead of the polls.
As the Trinamul leadership thinks such “unnecessary changes” put the state bureaucracy under undue pressure, the party had officially lodged complaints against deputy election commissioner Sudeep Jain raising questions over his impartiality. Jain is a key person in holding polls in Bengal.
Not only Jain, the ruling party in Bengal has also raised questions over posting of Vivek Dubey, a former IPS officer, as a special observer in Bengal as Trinamul had several complaints regarding use of central forces during the last Lok Sabha polls.
Dubey had worked as a special observer in Bengal during the 2019 general election.
“It is clear that she is concerned about the activities of these two officials as they are retired from service. She is all set to get the party to send another letter to the poll panel.… It is considered to be a smart move as it definitely puts the poll panel under pressure. If a chief minister expresses her displeasure with some EC officials, it sends a message throughout the country,” said an official.
