WB Municipal polls: BJP moves Calcutta HC, demands deployment of central forces in second phase

BJP state president Dr Sukanta Majumdar wrote a letter to the SEC on Sunday, demanding the cancellation of polls in Bidhannagar and Asansol over widespread alleged rigging during the first phase.

The BJP on Monday moved Calcutta High Court demanding the central forces to be deployed during Municipal elections on February 27.

This came after the BJP alleged widespread rigging during the elections to four municipal corporations on Saturday.

BJP state president Dr Sukanta Majumdar wrote a letter to the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday, demanding the cancellation of polls in Bidhannagar and Asansol.

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The voting should happen in the presence of neutral observers, said a BJP official.The BJP also claimed that the SEC is responsible for the incident that took place in the first round of voting, referring to the Calcutta HC's direction last week that gave 12 hours to the Bengal government and SEC to decide whether central forces would be required during voting.

The Court had mentioned that in case the SEC decides that no such deployment of central forces is necessary, then the Commissioner of the SEC will be personally liable for smooth conduct of polling.

The HC is likely to hear the matter on Tuesday.