No civil police be deployed in Bengal's polls- CEC Arora

In West Bengal,no civic police volunteers will be deployed for the upcoming assembly elections in the state and the commission has zero-tolerance to money and muscle power or misuse of government machinery," the CEC Sunil Arora told reporters in Kolkata on Friday. He said the EC's expenditure observer will take steps to prevent misuse of money power. "The ECI will ensure that there is no irregularity and every voter is allowed to cast vote in a free and fair manner in the assembly polls. We know how to get it done," he said.

Several parties voiced concerns over law and order situation in the state, while issues like fake news on social media and provocative slogans with communal overtone have also been flagged by them, the CEC said. Claiming that West Bengal is witnessing political violence in the run-up to the elections, opposition parties have urged the full bench of the ECI to ensure that free and fair polls are held in the state. The ruling Trinamool Congress alleged that the Border Security Force (BSF) is threatening people in the border areas of the state to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party. Describing the allegation against the BSF as "unfortunate", Arora said it is one of the finest forces in the country. He said the political party concerned should come up with facts to support its allegation.