Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress has expressed its displeasure at the Election Commission’s decision to send Central forces well in advance (of the coming State polls) and seek district-wise law and order report.
Reacting to the ECI’s “tough decisions” Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool general secretary Partho Chatterjee on Wednesday said “law and order is a State subject and we hope the Commission is aware of that.”
His Cabinet colleague and senior Trinamool leader Subroto Mukherjee went a step ahead to assert that the ECI’s steps were being observed closely for their legal rectitude.
“law and order is a State subject. And unless it is related to the conduct of elections the Commission would not act legally if it tried to interfere with law and order issues. Its steps are being closely observed,” Mukherjee said adding it could never be in the fitness of things if the Union Home Ministry was given to poke its nose into State subjects.
Apart from its decision to send 200 companies of CRPF within the first week of March and seek law and order report from the District Magistrates the Commission has also assured the Opposition to deploy as many central as required for smooth conduct of elections.
Concerned at continuing violence in districts and regular sighting of crude bomb factories particularly in South Bengal districts like Birbhum, two Midnapores, Burdwan, Nadia and two 24 Parganas the Commission has reportedly asked the DMs to send status reports on law and order through the State Additional Director General of Police (law and Order).
The poll panel is not only keeping a close watch on the deteriorating law and order situation but it has also taken cognizance of the recently held civic polls where the ruling outfit polled more than 100 per cent votes in many booths, said Samik lahiri a former CPI(M) MP adding “the Trinamool is unhappy with the Commission because they want the law and order to be supervised by its branded musclemen.”
State Opposition leader Suryakanto Mishra said the Commission should also take note of how the notorious criminals were being arrested and allowed to get bail as the public prosecutors were not opposing their bails.