The West Bengal State Election Commission has requested an additional 800 companies of central armed forces to ensure the smooth running of the panchayat polls on July 8. The SEC has requested a total of 822 companies, equivalent to around 82,200 central forces personnel, for the rural civic body polls. This order follows the ruling of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, who stated that at least 82,000 central armed forces should be deployed during the polls.
Despite initial reservations, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has agreed to abide by the SEC’s decision. She expressed confidence that the state police force is smarter than any other in the country. Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, stressed that the effective utilization of the central armed forces is the crucial factor in ensuring a free and fair election.
The 2021 panchayat polls will be held in a single phase, which differs from 2013 when the votes were cast over five phases. While doubts over the effective use of the deployed forces have been raised in the past, the deployment of these forces is essential in ensuring that the vote is as fair as possible.
Ultimately, no matter how many central armed forces are deployed, the Chief Minister argues that the people will have the final say. Banerjee maintains that the common people will vote and their vote will decide the outcome. The focus should now be on how to make the election process free and fair, ensuring that every vote counts.
