Central forces for Malda bypoll

Statesman News Service

MALDA , Sept 9.— Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister, said today that the Malda Congress had asked the Election Commission to appoint seven observers for the seven Assembly constituencies before conducting Malda Lok Sabha bypoll scheduled for 16 September. Addressing a Press conference, Mr Das Munshi said: “Only one observer is not adequate for the Malda LS constituency, comprising seven Assembly segments, to monitor “undue political influence” over voters, particularly on the day of polling by the state parliamentary affairs minister , Mr Sailen Sarkar , who is contesting as the CPI(M) candidate in this bypoll. Mr. Das Munshi alleged “ Mr. Sarkar is still utilising his influences as state minister in Malda parliamentary constituency by adopting various method to bag votes”. “Our AICC leaders have also taken up the matter with the EC”, Mr. Das Munshi added. “Demanding adequate central para-military forces for all polling stations in Malda, we have sent a letter to the EC mentioning specific complaints against the CPI-M candidate, who is still using his ministerial powers,” the Union minister , in charge of Malda by-poll for the Congress, said. According to the district election officer , the EC would send only 22 companies of CPMF (Central Para-military Forces), for the Malda bypoll that would cover only 40 per cent of the total polling stations. The district election officer has planned to bring state police forces from outside the district to cover the rest ( 60 per cent ) of the polling stations. “We are reluctant to appoint state police forces in the remaining 60 per cent polling stations and are demanding more CPMF for conducting the by-election peacefully . The CPI-M may take to rigging and capturing polling stations in absence of the CPMF”, Mr Das Munshi repeatedly stressed. “I will not criticise the EC for not allotting adequate CPMF for the Malda bypoll, but will demand more forces in the state for conducting the bypoll,” Mr Das Munshi told The Statesman. Mr Das Munshi also alleged that the CPI-M backed trade union leaders distributed “forged” government “labour cards” among the voters recently, but the administration could not arrest a single culprit, including the press owner, where the cards were printed illegally. “LF leaders are campaigning among the voters by offering job opportunities in Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS) and also primary schools”, the Union minister claimed. The administration had published advertisements seeking applications for various posts in ICDS, just before the notification of Assembly election. The entire process was stalled due to the notification of Assembly poll. But before the notification of the Malda bypoll, the department had issued interview letters to the applicants and cancelled the date of interview due to the bypoll.