Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien has written a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer amid the West Bengal Assembly elections. In this letter he has made serious allegations against the Central Reserve Police Force. He wrote that the ‘Force Deployment in Elections Manual, 2023’ issued by the Election Commission, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Indian Judicial Code, 2023 have been violated.

It is written in the letter that this complaint has been made on the basis of a video circulated on Facebook. In this video, some citizens are seen claiming that CRPF personnel were allegedly roaming with BJP candidates, distributing BJP pamphlets and instigating voters to vote in favor of BJP. The letter states that this behavior is allegedly an offense under criminal intimidation and undue influence in the electoral process (Section 174). It has also been alleged that such activities create an atmosphere of fear among voters and affect the right to free voting.

It is mandatory for central forces to remain impartial: TMC

TMC has also said that it is mandatory for central forces like CRPF to remain impartial while on election duty and such behavior is a violation of the Election Commission guidelines. Citing sections 123 and 129 of the Representation of the People Act, the letter said that no member of any police force is allowed to influence voters or induce them to cast their votes in favor of any party.

TMC’s demand from the Chief Electoral Officer

TMC has demanded from the Chief Electoral Officer that a show cause notice should be issued to the concerned CRPF personnel. Instructions should be given to register an FIR against him. All central forces should be instructed to ensure impartiality and strictly follow the rules of the Election Commission in West Bengal.

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