Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, the West Bengal Congress President, has written a letter to Governor CV Ananda Bose urging him to arrange for central forces during the Panchayat elections in order to ensure free and fair elections. Chaudhary expressed concerns about the possibility of a fair three-tier Panchayat election in July 2023 in West Bengal and requested that the election be conducted under the direct supervision of central forces. He cited the recent assassination of Congress worker Fulchand Shaikh as evidence of jungle rule in the state. Chaudhary also accused the ruling party of using thugs and miscreants to target opposition workers.
The upcoming Panchayat polls in West Bengal will be held on July 8, with the total votes being counted on July 11. The elections are expected to be fiercely contested between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling Trinamool Congress as it will be seen as a litmus test ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
