WB to reply SEC's letter, will write to MHA for CPMF

The West Bengal Government will write to the State Election Commission clarifying its stand while a fresh proposal is being sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs demanding Central Para-Military Forces (CPMF) for the state's panchayat election scheduled from July 2.
"We have received a letter from the State Election Commission (SEC). We held a meeting with the State Election Commissioner Mira Pandey thereafter. A letter is being sent to SEC confirming our discussion and their query," state Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra told reporters here today.
"A fresh proposal is also being sent to the MHA demanding Central Para-Military Forces for their deployment in the panchayat election," Mitra said.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had said on June 11 that the Centre would provide the required para-military forces during panchayat polls in Bengal, "if the state government approaches with a fresh proposal."
"It (forces) will be given to them. I have spoken to the Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) and asked her that she should give a proposal to the chief secretary and the chief secretary will talk to the home secretary. I have already spoken to home secretary asking him to give para-military forces (to West Bengal)," he had said.
The state government had earlier demanded that the Centre provide at least 300 companies of para-military forces for the panchayat polls.

Mitra, however, did not like to divulge details about the content of the letter from SEC and the matter of discussion during their meeting with Mira Pandey. Both Mitra and Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee were present at the meeting with Pandey.
"We are writing to the SEC to confirm the follow-up action of today's meeting," Mitra said.