35 companies of Central force to man Bhabanipur booths
Amid reports that miscreants have infiltrated Bhabanipur in great numbers a day ahead of the high-voltage Assembly by-election, the Election Commission of India on Wednesday deployed additional 20 companies of Central forces to man Thursday’s elections.
The ECI had earlier earmarked 15 companies of Central forces for the high-profile constituency from where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting against main contender BJP and the CPI(M). The election is crucial for her as she was defeated in the April-May polls from Nandigram seat and has to win an Assembly seat within the first week of November to continue on her post.
After EC decision to rush in more troops, Bhabanipur will witness an unprecedented 35 companies of CAPF manning the elections as against Jangipur and Shamshergang constituencies in the border district of Murshidabad where 19 and 18 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed.
The EC decision to deploy additional companies came after the BJP leadership met the ECI officials and demanded strict implementation of electoral procedures in the wake of an alleged attack by Trinamool Congress supporters on party national vice president Dilip Ghosh a few days ago.
Apart from increasing the number of Central forces, the EC has also directed webcasting of polls in all the booths. In addition, Section 144 too has been clamped in Bhawanipore one of the upmarket areas of South Kolkata.
“There will be 17 quick response teams and hundred percent CCTV coverage…in addition, all the 287 booths will have micro-observers,” said an EC official adding “the decision to upgrade security was taken following a demand from the Opposition.”
Massive bandobast has been done for the Jangipur and Shamsherganj seats in Murshidabad bordering Bangladesh. Elections to these constituencies were countermanded early this year after the Congress and Left candidates died of corona.
While 19 companies of CAPF will man Jangipur which has 363 booths, 18 companies have been deployed at Shamsherganj with 329 booths. In total, more than 7.5 lakh voters would cast their votes in Wednesday’s polls.