Ending stalemate over the Central paramilitary force availability for the Panchayat elections in West Bengal, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde announced on Tuesday of sending the forces to the state. The development came after chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s call to him.
Replying to a question on the state government’s requirement of 300 companies of Central forces from the ministry of home affairs (MHA) Mr Shinde said in New Delhi, “It will be given. The chief minister talked to me on Monday and has instructed the chief secretary of the state government to write to Union home secretary. I have spoken to the home secretary.”
Mr Shinde’s announcement came as a big relief to Ms Banerjee who had read out an MHA letter in public on June 5 of the Centre’s rejection of her government’s request for 300 companies of the Central forces for the rural polls.
In Kolkata, panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee asserted that the rural polls would be conducted on schedule definitely. “I strongly believe that the Panchayat polls will be held as scheduled. The process is underway. We are following the court’s directive and as expected, the preparations for the poll are in full swing,” he said.
On the postponment of polls, he added, “The state government cannot call off the polls. Only the court has the power to postpone the polls. The election will be held.”
After the Trinamul Congress and BJP, the Left-Front trained its guns on the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) over the security of the candidates for the panchayat elections.
Left-Front chairman Biman Bose blamed it for failing to protect the candidates from threats and attacks while filing nomination in the districts.
“The WBSEC has failed to provide security to the candidates.” It could not take help of the police and administration. The governor being the constitutional head can not shirk his responsibility.