BJP demands section 144 in Bhabanipur during by-poll

A BJP delegation met with West Bengal's chief electoral officer on Monday and demanded the deployment of central paramilitary forces at every polling booth and the promulgation of Section 144 Cr PC in Bhabanipur constituency during the by-poll on September 30.

The BJP delegation was led by Swapan Dasgupta and also included Sishir Bajoria and Pratap Banerjee. The meeting comes hours after BJP leader Dilip Ghosh claimed he was attacked by members of the ruling Trinamool Congress during a poll campaign in Bhabanipur.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Shishir Bajoria said attackers were connected with Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra. "Central forces managed to rescue our leaders. These kinds of incidents demoralise people," he added.

The BJP delegation also demanded that central forces be present inside the booths and that Kolkata Police should not take active participation in the security arrangements in Bhabanipur.

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The BJP demanded complete webcasting of the election along with CCTV coverage of the whole process to be conducted on September 30.

"We want the CRPF in the area on election day and after the elections so that a free and fair election can take place," the BJP delegation maintained.

The BJP sought the Election Commission to ensure that CRPF personnel are deployed outside the polling booths. "We want CRPF to be deployed ahead of the polling. We want that the election to happen without any fear and want CRPF personnel to be deployed outside every poll booth," the delegation stated.

On Monday, the last day of campaigning, the BJP deployed a large group of party leaders in Bhabanipur, including Ghosh, in support of party candidate Priyanka Tibrewal, who is contesting the bypoll against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Earlier this month, the saffron party also urged the EC to restrain Mamata Banerjee from participating in the Bhabanipur bypoll alleging that she has been funding durga puja committees to woo them.

(With inputs from ANI)