Central forces, under a local magistrate, were stationed outside the house of controversial Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal in Birbhum district early today prior to tomorrow's polling following an Election Commission directive placing him under 24X7 surveillance.
Deputy Magistrate Mrinmoy Das reached Mondal's house at around 8 am.
Ten central force jawans were deployed outside the house of TMC's Birbhum district president since early morning. A local videographer was also part of the team as per the EC's directive.
"I am working as per the district magistrate's instruction," Das told reporters.
Party workers and mediapersons entered Mondal's house and spoke to him as the forces under the magistrate waited outside.
"I'll visit the party offices in all the eleven assembly constituencies and talk to party workers. I don't see any problem," Mondal said before embarking on his tour of party offices in Nanoor, Labhpur, Sainthia, Mayureshwar, Rampurhat and Suri among others prior to tomorrow's crucial second phase polling in 56 constituencies in seven districts, including Birbhum.
The Election Commission had issued instructions yesterday to keep the controversial Trinamool Congress leader under 24x7 surveillance of the central police force.
The Commission has directed West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta to keep movement and election-related activities of Mondal under constant watch during the entire election period and videograph his moves.
Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi had yesterday said they were initiating urgent legal action against Mandal.
Mondal was censured by the EC on April 12 for making certain utterances against a woman BJP candidate and was asked to be careful in future. Even after that the Commission has been receiving regular complaints against him.
On several earlier occasions, the TMC leader has been issued show-cause notice by the poll panel.
