BJP and Congress decide to approach Calcutta High Court in a bid to request guard for vulnerable booths

 Leaders of both parties consulted lawyers separately on taking up plea during hearing of contempt petition against SEC

Pranesh Sarkar, Tapas Ghosh, TT, Calcutta, 30.06.23 : The BJP and the Congress have reportedly decided to approach Calcutta High Court with pleas to deploy central forces at booths during the July 8 panchayat polls in those areas which witnessed clashes during the filing of nominations.

Leaders of both the parties consulted lawyers separately on taking up the plea with the high court on Monday during the hearing of a contempt petition against the State Election Commission (SEC).

“We are not concerned about the number of phases (of the polls). We just want to see that central force personnel are deployed at all polling stations according to the Calcutta High Court order,” state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said in Nadia on Thursday.

The high court had ordered the deployment of over 820 companies of central forces in all districts going to the polls on July 8.

The Congress, a source said, is desperate for the deployment of central forces to guard the booths in districts like Murshidabad and Malda where the party is confident of putting up a good show.

“Clashes broke out in districts like Murshidabad, Malda, North Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, parts of North 24-Parganas, Nadia and South 24-Parganas. In these areas, the Trinamul Congress will try to indulge in all kinds of electoral malpractices to defeat Opposition parties. That is why guarding booths by central forces is important,” said a Congress leader.

The Congress and the BJP said they needed to approach the high court for the protection of the booths by the central forces in the areas that had witnessed violence during the nomination filing as the required number of paramilitary personnel might not be available to guard all 61,000-odd booths in the state.

The SEC had requisitioned 822 companies of central forces. But the Union home ministry has allotted only 337 companies so far.

As one company has an effective strength of about 80 jawans for the deployment, right now, 26,960 paramilitary personnel are posted in the state altogether. Since at least four jawans have to be deployed at one place, a maximum number of 6,740 booths or premises could be guarded by the central forces.

“We have heard that another 100-125 companies could be sent to Bengal ahead of the polls. But still, it would not be sufficient to guard all 61,000 booths by the central forces,” said a BJP leader.

According to the BJP leader, violence in the nomination phase was witnessed mostly in areas where the Opposition tried to resist the Trinamul hegemony.

“If the court gives an order for central force deployment in areas that witnessed violence, our plan will be fulfilled,” he added.

The BJP and the Congress apprehend that the central forces would be used primarily for area domination and route march.