Lok Sabha elections: Central forces asking people to vote for BJP, claims Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused Central forces personnel of influencing voters to cast their vote in favour of the BJP.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. PTI Photo

ARAMBAGH: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the central forces of working for the BJP by asking voters to cast their votes for the saffron party in in Maldaha Dakshin and Balurghat constituencies, where polling is underway. "I have got information that the central forces are sitting inside booths in Englishbazar in Maldaha Dakshin and asking voters to vote for the BJP. They do not have the right to do such thing. We have informed the Election Commission about our reservations regarding this," PTI quoted Banerjee as sying. "Why are they (central forces) doing it? The police cannot enter a polling booth," she added. She said that the central forces could come to a state during the elections but they should work with the assistance of the state force and then leave. Banerjee urged the central forces to stick to their duty of maintaining law and order and not try to influence the elections. "The Central force may come during the elections. They will come for a day, conduct elections and go back. State police guide them and help them out. I love both the forces. I do not differentiate between them," she said. "I would request you and the state police to do your job. You are our guest and friend. If we form government at the Centre, you will work with me. Modi ji will not be there." Criticising the BJP for allegedly using the central forces, she said, "You cannot use the central forces. You did the same thing during the 2016 (assembly) elections in West Bengal. I have not forgotten it." West Bengal will teach the BJP an apt lesson, she claimed. Central forces have been deployed at over 92 per cent of the booths in the third phase of the polling in five Lok Sabha constituencies on Tuesday. Banerjee claimed that the Centre has directed the EC to send maximum number of Central forces in Bengal as they have "a grudge" against her and her party, and alleged that the states ruled by the BJP do not have such heavy deployment. "I can challenge and say that there has been no election in Tripura. All the votes were rigged. Tell me in the states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam where your government is in power, how many companies of Central force have been deployed and how many officers have been changed?" she asked. "Why is everything in Bengal? They have so much grudge against Bengal because I talk against them. Bengal will give them the real fight. Trinamool will capture Delhi in the coming days," Banerjee added. (With inputs from agencies)