Cong wants central forces for Bengal panchayat polls

Congress today made a strong pitch for deployment of central security forces during the panchayat elections in West Bengal expressing apprehension of "huge amount of violence".
Party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said the State Election Commission, West Bengal government and the Centre should explore and ensure a free and fair and non-violent panchayat elections.
Senior Congress leader and Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare A H Khan Chowdhury had yesterday alleged that the panchayat polls in West Bengal are a "farce" and "bluff".
"The panchayat polls are a farce and bluff as the Trinamool Congress has unleashed a reign of terror and threatening people of other parties from contesting the rural polls," Khan Chowdhury, MP from Malda district had said in Kolkata.

Panchayat elections are scheduled next month. Opposition CPI-M has sought the intervention of West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan into alleged attacks of Opposition candidates by the ruling Trinamool Congress during nomination filing.