Cong for three-phase rural poll in WB, demands central forces

The Congress today demanded that the panchayat election in West Bengal scheduled for May should be held in three phases and with deployment of central forces.
"Panchayat election should be held in three phases and central forces should be deployed for holding a free and fair election," WBPCC leader Manas Bhunia told reporters here.
"How can the state government, which even failed to ensure a peaceful election in the Harimohan Ghose College here, say that panchayat elections can be held without central forces? This decision is wrong," he said.
He claimed that the state government was planning to hold two phase polling in Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur districts and one phase polling in the remaining districts.

"Maoist-hit West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts will go for polling with other districts, but in Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur polling will be held separately. This is strange," the Congress leader said.
Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur districts are Congress strongholds.