New Delhi: The Election Commission on Tuesday announced the dates for the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Out of the five assemblies that of West Bengal is in the limelight, as the ruling Left Front appears to be on shaky ground for the first time in 33 years. And the main Opposition Trinamool Congress is leaving no stone unturned to grab the opportunity of coming to the power in the state, even as the ruling party is up in its arms to save its fort.
In the view of ongoing political violence in West Bengal, the assembly elections in the state have been divided into six phases, while Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puduchery will conduct the elections in single phase and Assam will have in two phases.
The Phase-1 of the elections in West Bengal will be conducted on April 18, Phase-2 on April 23, Phase-3 on April 27, Phase-4 on May 3, Phase-5 on May 7 and Phase-6 of polls on May 10.
Even as the Election Commission announced about a month-long (from April 18 to May 10) poll schedule for the state, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Dissatisfied over law and order situation in poll-bound West Bengal, on Tuesday said nearly 10,000 central para-military force personnel will be sent to ensure adequate security during the elections.
"100 companies (about 10,000 men) of central paramilitary forces will be deployed in West Bengal," Chidambaram told reporters here.
"Law and order continues to be unsatisfactory as sporadic clashes still do take place (in West Bengal). But law and order is still a state subject," he said.
The Home Minister said more security force personnel may be sent to the state on the basis of Election Commission's recommendation.
"Election Commission will take a decision on the law and order situation in the state and we will send the central para-military forces as per their needs," he added.
(With additional information from PTI)
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