Central forces needed for free, fair polls: Khan Chowdhury

Senior Congress leader and Union Minister A H Khan Chowdhury today said that to hold free and fair panchayat polls in West Bengal it is necessary to deploy the Central paramilitary forces at polling booths.
When Trinamool Congress was in the opposition and Left Front was in power in West Bengal, they (TMC) would always demands polls in the state under Central paramilitary forces. "Now when they are in power, why are they against deployment of Central paramilitary forces," Khan Chowdhury wondered.
The senior Congress leader alleged that the panchayat polls would not be free and fair if only the state police is deployed.

The Union minister who is also MP from Malda district today visited the left bank of the district which is affected by Ganga erosion along with the General Manager of the Farakka Barrage Project.
After his visit, Khan Chowdhury said the Farakka Barrage Project authorities told him that immediate repair work needs to be done on 10 km embankment for which Rs 50 crore is needed immediately.