Senior Dilip Ghosh has asserted that elections in West Bengal cannot be conducted peacefully without the deployment of central forces, intensifying the political debate over poll security in the state.
Speaking to reporters, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader alleged that law and order deteriorates during elections under the current state administration. He claimed that central armed police forces are essential to ensure free and fair voting, particularly in sensitive districts that have witnessed violence in previous polls.
“Without central forces, impartial elections are not possible in West Bengal,” Ghosh said, accusing the ruling dispensation of failing to guarantee voter safety. He alleged that intimidation and booth-level irregularities could influence the democratic process if adequate security arrangements are not made.
The demand comes as political activities gather pace ahead of upcoming elections in the state. The BJP has consistently called for a stronger role of the Election Commission of India in supervising security arrangements, including the deployment of central forces across all phases of polling.
Leaders of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress dismissed the allegations, stating that West Bengal has a robust administrative mechanism capable of conducting elections smoothly. Party representatives accused the BJP of trying to create a narrative of fear to gain political mileage.
Election security has long been a contentious issue in Bengal politics, with central forces often deployed in large numbers during Assembly, Lok Sabha and panchayat elections. Political observers say such statements reflect the high-voltage atmosphere that typically surrounds elections in the state.
While the final decision on deployment rests with the Election Commission, the renewed demand underscores the sharp political divide over how to ensure transparency and safety during the electoral process.
