All booths to be under Central Force vigilance for fifth phase

Kolkata: All polling booths in the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Bengal which will go to poll in the fifth phase on May 6, will be manned by Central Forces, said sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

According to sources, there will be a total deployment of 578 companies of Central Forces for the fifth phase, to ensure a free and fair poll. The fourth phase held on April 29 had witnessed a deployment of Central Forces in 98 percent polling stations. On May 6, elections will be held in Bongaon, Barrackpore, Howrah, Uluberia, Sreerampore, Hooghly and Arambagh. The Election Commission has already identified the trouble-prone areas in these constituencies. The election officials are leaving no stones unturned to present an election devoid of any major incidents. All the poll-bound district administrative officials have been issued necessary guidelines to conduct a smooth election.

It may be mentioned here that in the third phase of elections, Central Force jawans were deployed in around 90 percent polling stations. The Opposition parties had alleged many incidents of intimidation in the first two phases of elections, when lesser number of polling stations had been under the coverage of Central Forces.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Tuesday rejected BJP's demand of repolling at various polling stations in Nadia and Birbhum. After going through the reports submitted by the district election officials, the Commission said that there will be no repoll in the two districts.