For the first time in the history of West Bengal, people are asking for central forces in lieu of votes, BJP candidate from Asansol, Babul Supriyo, said coming down hard on the Trinamool Congress, alleging that it was perpetuating violence.
Supriyo seemed to agree with IAS officer Ajay V Nayak's statement comparing the situation in the state to that in Bihar around 10 to 15 years ago.
"We have to ensure that 100 per cent booths have central forces. This is probably the first time in history that we have seen people actually agitating about central forces. They are saying give us central forces, and take our votes," Supriyo told PTI in an interview.
A 1984-batch IAS officer, Nayak, a Bihar cadre officer was recently sent to the state to oversee the last five phases of polling.
He had told reporters, "The condition in West Bengal is quite similar to what it was in Bihar around 10 to 15 years ago. During that time in Bihar, total deployment of central forces at the booths was required. Now it is required in West Bengal as the people of West Bengal have lost faith in the state police"