Opposition parties in West Bengal demand forces for municipal poll

CPI (M) calls for deferment of the proposed poll dates

Opposition parties in West Bengal today demanded deployment of central forces for the upcoming municipal elections in the state, including the prestigious Kolkata Municipal Corporation election, as the CPI (M) called for deferment of the proposed poll dates.

"All political parties, other than the Trinamool Congress and NCP, demanded that central forces be deployed for the municipal elections," West Bengal state election commissioner Susanta Ranjan Upadhyay told PTI here.

"We have, however, already written to the Election Commission that central forces be deployed in certain areas to ensure free and fair polls," he said after an all-party meeting called by the WBSEC to discuss the preparations for the elections.