Central forces acting at the behest of BJP: TMC to EC

New Delhi (India), Apr 29 (ANI): The Trinamool Congress has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the Central forces deployed on election duty are acting at the behest of BJP leaders and have created terror in the minds of voters and forcing them to cast their votes in favour of the BJP. 
The party alleged that the Central forces are acting in such a manner which is not conducive for a free and fair election in West Bengal.
“…Since after the deployment of central forces there was various instances where at the instruction of the leaders of the BJP, the Central Forces have acted in a manner which is not conducive to free and fair election within the state of West Bengal. During earlier phases of election, complaints were filed against such Central forces, but no action has been taken,” read the complaint to the EC, given on Monday.
Security forces resorted to lathi-charge on Monday at a polling station in Asansol parliamentary constituency after clashes erupted between TMC and BJP supporters over allegations of electoral malpractices.
There were reports of altercations between supporters of TMC, BJP, and CPI (M) from several polling booths in the constituency.
At polling booths 125-129 in Asansol, TMC workers insisted on polling to begin despite the absence of central forces, leading to protests from BJP and CPI (M) supporters. When the central forces arrived, TMC workers clashed with the security personnel.
Union Minister Babul Supriyo had an altercation with polling officers and TMC cadres at a booth, alleging that the supporters of Mamata Banerjee-led party were capturing polling stations and not letting voters cast their votes.
“Central forces have created a reign of terror in the minds of voters and they have also urged the voters to cast their vote in favour of the BJP. The Central forces, in a motivated and pre-conceived manner, have resorted to firing within the polling booth thereby creating fear in the mind of the voters so that they are restrained from casting their votes,” it read.
TMC also alleged that Union Minister and BJP candidate from Asansol Lok Sabha seat Babul Supriyo and other BJP candidates are intimidating polling officers at various booths.
Later in the day, the Election Commission directed the West Bengal police to register an FIR against Babul Supriyo for allegedly trespassing into polling booth number 199 and threatening a polling agent and an officer, confirmed West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer. (ANI)