New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday turned down West Bengal Chief Mininster Mamata Banerjee's demand for central forces during the panchayat elections in the state. Sources reveal that the Home Ministry turned down the demand saying it was the state government's responsibility to provide security for such polls.
However, the West Bengal State Election commission and the Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee are yet to confirm the development. The matter is expected to be decided by a court, which will take a decision during a hearing on Wednesday.
"We do not provide Central forces to any state. These are local bodies' polls," said an official in the Home Ministry. West Bengal government had demanded 300 companies (around 30,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces from the Centre for the panchayat polls.
On Monday, Mamata had rejected the State Election Commission's demand for 1.49 lakh security personnel for the first phase of panchayat polls scheduled for next month, saying the state did not have requisite forces. State Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra also said a fresh proposal is being sent to the Home Ministry seeking Central Paramilitary forces for the panchayat polls scheduled from July 2.
(additional information from PTI)
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