The Trinamool Congress and BJP have begun a war of words right ahead of the Election Commission announcing dates for the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.
While the TMC has sought polls in one phase in the state, the BJP says focus should be on free and fair elections.
The Mamata Banerjee-led party, in a submission to the EC, has also said central forces must not show high-handedness, given that 920 companies of the forces will come to the state for polls.
Speaking to News18, Bengal minister Shashi Panja said: “For their ease of campaign and to malign the state, they will hold elections in multiple phases. That’s why we have requested for one phase. Last time we saw how forces tries to influence people.”
However, BJP’s Rahul Sinha said: “Did Mamata Banerjee forget that she asked for 10 phases of elections when she was in the opposition? There should be multiple phases and a strict police observer. We want free and fair elections.”
TMC has declared 42 seats, while BJP has declared 50 per cent of their candidates. Left has declared 16 seats and Congress is yet to announce its names.
Bengal is always on the radar during elections due to political violence in the state. Sources in the EC say elections are likely to be held in multiple phases and clear instructions have been given that no violence will be tolerated in Bengal.
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