In an attempt to ensure free and fair election in the hilly regions of Darjeeling, the Election Commission (EC) has decided to deploy 12 companies of central forces.
According to the sources, 10 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed for conducting the polls in the three assembly constituencies in the hilly region of Darjeeling districts.
The rest 2 companies of central forces will be kept in the Siliguri sub-division where polls will be held in three assembly constituencies.
The EC is leaving no stone unturned to ensure free and fair election in the hilly region which was the stronghold of Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM).
There are altogether 1633 polling stations in all the six assembly constituencies. There were 261 polling stations in Kalimpong, 317 in Darjeeling, 290 in Kurseong and Matigara-Nakshalbari each, 237 in Phansidewa and 238 in Siliguri.
The Commission has not mentioned the number of sensitive booths in the district.
This is for the first time the ruling party; Trinamool Congress is fielding its candidates in the hilly areas which were the stronghold of the GJMM. It had been a major embarrassment for GJMM as Harka Bahadur Chhetri once an important leader of the party is going to contest for Jana Andolon Party which is supported by Trinamool Congress.
Chhetri apprehended that if there is a free and fair election in the region, it could bring a real embarrassment for the GJMM. All the sensitive booths have already been identified in the districts. Central forces were deployed in various sensitive pockets. EC has already asked the District Election Officer and other election officials to closely monitor the situation.