The main Opposition party in Bengal the CPI(M), who was hoping that the alliance will come to power, now seems to be nervous as it is evident after its party leaders have urged the Election Commission to retain Central Forces in the state even after the poll counting is over.
The CPI(M) leaders, however, claimed that a law and order situation may arise at various places after the election result is announced. The proposal is now under the consideration of the Election Commission of India.
They are complaining that at several parts of the state their party supporters have been attacked by the Trinamool Congress activists and the police are not taking any action.
The CPI(M) leaders are apprehending that after the poll result is over more such incidents may happen in the state. They believe that the Central forces will be required to control such situation.
Many people however feel that this is the latest strategy of the CPI(M) to mount pressure on the election commission ahead of the poll result. Many of the party leaders are no longer ready to see the rosy pictures presented by a section of party leaders that the Left Front-Congress alliance might get more than 170 seats. They have started realising what the reality is.
Sensing that they will not perform as some of the party comrades had once thought it to be, they are now chalking out new strategies. According a party insider the blame game has already begun between the CPI(M) and the Congress.
If they face debacle one party will blame the other for this.
Therefore, the CPI(M) leaders are now feeling that they might face public wrath for the tall talks that they had made sensing. To gain some political mileage and to depict themselves vulnerable they are now seeking help from the commission. People have seen how CPI(M) leaders had taken up a strategy to mount pressure on the election commission by furnishing false complaints during the poll phases.
The Central Forces will remain the state till May 22 and afterward they will move away. There is no such law and order problem in the state which may prompt the ECI to stay back some forces beyond May 22 for any unforeseen incidents. However, the matter is up to the ECI. Some CPI(M) leaders on Saturday met the Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta urging him to take some steps so that central forces remain in the state for more days. The CEO office had informed the matter to the senior election commission officials in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the commission has been taking all the security measures to prevent any untoward incidents. There will be three layer of security in all the counting stations. The counting stations will be manned by central forces while the state police will be on the main gate. The CEO will also hold a video conference with the returning officers and the assistant returning officers to take a stock of the overall arrangements for the counting day.