WBSEC writes to state govt on availability of central forces

Uncertain about availability of central forces in the coming civic polls in the state, West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) has written a letter to the government today for details on what transpired after it assured to take up the issue with the Centre.
"We have written a letter to Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee today on whether he had received any communication from the Centre regarding availability of central forces for their deployment in the ensuing civic polls in the state," State Election Commissioner Susanta Ranjan Upadhyay told reporters here.
"We also wanted to know from the home secretary if it had any communication at all with the Centre on the issue and in case of any communication how many companies will be available and from which date," he said.

Upadhyay said Banerjee had in a letter to him on March 25 said the state government had no objection to deploying central forces for the civic polls in the state. The matter, it said, had been discussed with the Centre and would be intimated to the Commission in due time.
The Commission also hinted at the requirement of at least 100 companies of central forces for free, fair and peaceful civic polls.
"Since the polling date is getting closer, we should know details about availability of the central forces for appropriate planning for their deployment," he said.

Election to the 144-seat Kolkata Municipal Corporation is slated for April 18, while polls to 91 municipalities across the state would be held on April 25.

These elections are seen as a trial of strength of the major political parties before the state assembly election due in May next year.
Opposition parties in West Bengal have been demanding deployment of central forces for the municipal elections in the state.
To a question, Upadhyay said that the Commission today issued an order relaxing the norms on the use of of loud speakers for poll campaigning from tomorrow for a stipulated time.
The use of loud speakers or microphones were banned because of various examinations being held during this period.