The recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Calcutta High Court’s order for the deployment of central armed forces in West Bengal for the upcoming panchayat polls has raised concerns among opposition parties in the state.
Their primary worry revolves around how effectively the central forces will be utilized by the West Bengal State Election Commission, which, according to them, often acts as an extension of the state government.
However, leaders from the ruling Trinamool Congress party do not consider this development to be a significant issue, as they believe the presence of central forces will not impact the outcome of the rural civic body polls.
Saugata Roy, a veteran Trinamool Congress leader and three-time Lok Sabha member, stated that they are not worried about the Supreme Court’s order, as the deployment of central armed forces will not alter the election results.
“While we initially opposed the deployment of central armed forces, considering it to be an unnecessary exercise, ultimately their presence or absence will not affect the results. The people of West Bengal, who continue to have tremendous confidence in Trinamool Congress and the state, will actively participate in the polling process,” Roy explained.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the West Bengal State Congress President and a veteran Lok Sabha member, expressed doubts about the conduct of peaceful polls, even after the favorable verdict from the apex court on Tuesday. He pointed out that the central forces will now be under the control of the state election commission, which acts as an extended arm of the state government. This raises concerns that the central forces may be rendered ineffective on the day of the polls.
Similarly, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, voiced apprehension about the central forces’ effective utilization. However, he expressed confidence that if the ruling party attempts to incite violence by keeping the central armed forces inactive on the polling day, there would be staunch resistance, as seen during the nomination phase.
The deployment of central armed forces in West Bengal for the forthcoming panchayat polls has become a subject of debate and concern among opposition forces, who question the impartiality and effectiveness of their utilization. As the state gears up for the upcoming elections, ensuring a peaceful and fair electoral process remains a key priority for all stakeholders involved. (Edited)