West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Border Security Force (BSF) of scaring voters in the bordering areas of the state before the impending Panchayat polls. She alleged that the BSF officials were asking voters not to cast their votes at the behest of the saffron camp. Banerjee requested the police to keep a watch on the activities of BSF officials and urged the voters to participate in the election without fear.
Addressing a rally in the Cooch Behar district, Banerjee asserted that Law and order is a state subject, implying that the Centre has no right to participate in it. She warned against any attempts to curb the democratic rights of voters and threatened to take strict action against those responsible for any such infringements.
Banerjee’s statement came in light of the aggressive political campaign by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the Panchayat polls. The ruling party has been alleging that the opposition was trying to intimidate voters and scare them from participating in the elections. The TMC has urged the Election Commission to take precautionary measures to ensure the smooth functioning of the electoral process.
The Panchayat polls in West Bengal have been fraught with violence and controversies in the past. The state government has been accused of using state machinery to suppress its political opponents and ensure a smooth victory. The BJP, which has emerged as a formidable opposition in the state, has accused the TMC of foul play and demanded free and fair elections.
The BSF, on its part, has denied the allegations of intimidating voters and asked for evidence to prove the charges. The security force has maintained that it is only discharging its duty of maintaining law and order along the border areas.
The political scenario in Bengal has been heating up in the run-up to the Panchayat polls. The TMC, which has been ruling the state for the past decade, is facing stiff competition from the BJP, which has made significant inroads into the state in recent years. The outcome of the Panchayat polls could have significant implications for the state’s political future.
