Apprehending an action-replay of 2014 general elections when large-scale violence and booth-capturing was reported from every corner of Bengal that eventually gave the Trinamool Congress a landslide victory notwithstanding the party securing a mere 39 per cent vote, the BJP has requested the Election Commission to deploy 160 companies of paramilitary forces in the coming parliamentary and Assembly by-elections for Bongaon and Krishnaganj seats.
The party’s Central observer for Bengal Siddharth Nath Singh on Wednesday said after meeting the Chief Electoral Officer that the party had “demanded 160 companies of central forces” besides the sealing of the Bangladesh border 72 hours before the elections.
Singh said that the party had demanded proper area domination to prevent the ruling party goons from threatening the voters and snatching their ID cards. “It has been decided that three Central Observers would come for Bongaon and one would come for Krishnaganj” Singh said adding request for adequate CCTV coverage had also been made.