Congress leader Adhir Ranjan alleges fake ballots, demands more security for West Bengal elections

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has made a serious claim regarding the upcoming West Bengal Panchayat elections, alleging the printing of fake ballot papers and suspicion of ballot box tampering.

Earlier, Chowdhury expressed his concerns over the insufficient deployment of central forces for election security and demanded increased deployment and a multi-phase election process. In a press conference held at the Kolkata Press Club, Chowdhury emphasized the need for additional central forces to ensure a free and fair election. He argued that the current deployment of 822 companies of central forces was inadequate considering the number of polling stations in the state. He urged the State Election Commissioner, Rajeev Sinha, to strategically utilize central forces to maintain law and order during the polls.

The State Election Commission responded to these concerns by informing the Calcutta High Court that they have requisitioned 822 companies of central forces for the July 8 Panchayat elections in West Bengal. However, Chowdhury believes that the deployment of central forces should mirror the arrangements made for assembly or Lok Sabha elections to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

Chowdhury further alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress was apprehensive about allowing voters to freely exercise their franchise in the Panchayat elections, as it could lead to their diminished presence. He claimed that the government's reluctance to comply with the Calcutta High Court's order to deploy additional central forces stemmed from this fear. In response, he has decided to approach the court to address the issue and safeguard the fairness of the electoral process.

Meanwhile, West Bengal has witnessed a wave of violence during the filing of nominations for the Panchayat elections, with eight people losing their lives and several others injured in incidents across the state. This outbreak of pre-election violence highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures to maintain peace and ensure the safety of voters during the electoral process.