KOLKATA : Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday questioned the neutrality of the central forces and alleged that in several booths in Englishbazar (Malda Dakshin) and one in Itahar (Balurghat), they were seen urging people to vote for BJP. In Malda Dakshin, Banerjee added, central force personnel even entered polling booths, which was illegal. The chief minister said a formal complaint on this has been made before the Election Commission. “In Englishbazar (Malda Dakshin), central forces had gone inside booths 166 and 167. They were trying to influence voters to vote for BJP. They do not have the power to do so. We have lodged an official complaint. Why will they do it? Is this their duty? In Itahar, too, they were seen telling voters ‘BJP ko vote do’ (vote for BJP),” Banerjee said. “With due respect to the central forces, I would like to tell them that this government will not remain in power for long. We will form the government and then they will have to work with us,” she added. Banerjee said Trinamool had flagged the issue to the EC earlier that the wife of a retired officer in the MHA tasked to deploy central paramilitary forces (in Bengal) was contesting from Malda Dakshin on a BJP ticket. “Why do they fear Bengal so much? They do not trust police in Bengal. They do not trust officers in Bengal. They do not even trust the people of Bengal,” she said. “Yes, during elections, central forces are deployed. But they will be here for a day, complete their work and return. The state police are there to help them. They are both for the people,” the CM added. “Banglai oder fight debe, Banglai oder tight debe (Bengal will fight them, Bengal will teach them a lesson). Bring in 500 crore battalions. But they forget that people have the last word in democracy,” she said.
