Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress on Monday registered a complaint with senior Election Commission officials of the state regarding the alleged intimidation of voters by a section of the Central Forces deployed in various parts of Bengal.
Senior officials of the TMC, led by Subrata Bakshi, on Monday met a senior official at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging the high-handedness of some of the Central Forces personnel.
TMC leaders went ahead to place their demands before the election officials after a television channel showed a Central Force personnel engaging in a conversation with a woman, supposed to be a voter, allegedly giving her certain instructions.
Senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim on Sunday made his party's stand clear when he said that a complaint would be registered with the CEO office. Hakim on Sunday alleged that they had seen on television that a Central Forces person in a certain area had been intimidating voters. Hakim termed the incident as 'uncalled for'. He also added that the Central Forces should not come with any specific commitment. If they do so, it is unfortunate, Hakim opined.
"The Central Forces are deployed by the Election Commission for boosting the confidence of the voters. The force should act neutrally," Hakim said.
According to a senior election official at the CEO office, they would look into the matter. "There is nothing wrong if a Central Force personnel talks to a voter. We have heard that a complaint has been registered in this regard. The Commission will verify the complaint," a senior election official from the CEO office said.
Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee on Sunday also raised his voice by saying that the job of the Central Forces is to ensure peaceful elections. But they have seen in a video footage that a personnel was trying to 'terrorise' a voter.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned here that some opposition party leaders have registered a complaint with the Election Commission against TMC president in Birbhum, Anubrata Mondal.