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Special-case Bengal by Meghdeep Bhattacharyya
The Election Commission feels that the situation in Bengal is “worse than anticipated” and that the ground realities necessitate “an exclusive plan of action” for conducting the Assembly elections this year, according to sources.

The commission made the observations after going through a report submitted by a six-member team that visited the state last week.

The “exclusive plan of action” will have a bearing on the number of phases for the elections, the quantum of central forces to be despatched on election duty, and the timing of their deployment.

Sources in the commission’s headquarters in Delhi told The Telegraph the report upheld the commission’s initial assessment on law and order in the state and presented details that painted a picture “more grim” than expected. “The law and order situation, the ground reality of it, is worse than anticipated,” said a senior commission official.

The report was submitted by the team on Saturday. “The report corroborates the assessment of the commission’s full bench during its two-day visit (January 8 and 9) to Bengal. But it also points out in detail how the scene is more grim than what was foreseen, necessitating an exclusive plan of action for the Assembly polls in the state,” the official added.

“It is now clearer that most parties in Bengal have a role in the ongoing turmoil in the state. But the CPM has to take most of the blame because it leads the government,” the commission official added.

While the problems are “more severe” in south Bengal, the report also mentioned the turmoil in the hills.

“South Bengal is faced with more severe problems, especially because of the Maoist-insurgency in Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore. But the commission will also have to take into account the unrest in the north Bengal hills,” said a Nirvachan Sadan source.

Although the team did not go to north Bengal, it took feedback from the district administration in a videoconference on January 17. “According to the team, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri are two districts to watch out for,” he added.

Bihar’s chief electoral officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, who led the team and returned to Patna, today told The Telegraph: “Our job is done. The team members and I tried our best to present a first-hand, ground-level assessment. Having submitted our report, it is up to the commission to take necessary action.”

The action, sources revealed, is being finalised on the basis of the report. The three key areas – the number of phases, the quantum of central forces and their deployment -- were being discussed at meetings ahead of the National Voters’ Day, which will be observed by the poll panel tomorrow.

“The state administration had asked for 798 companies of Central forces, around 200 companies more than the Assembly elections of 2006. Based on what was seen, 800 companies, if not more, should be allotted for the polls this year,” said a commission official.

District officials, in various meetings with the commission this month, have asked for deployment of at least 15 per cent (120 companies) of central forces two weeks before the first polling phase for area domination.

“Given the situation, over 40 per cent (320 companies) could be deployed at least three weeks prior to the onset of voting in Bengal,” said a senior commission official.

The number of phases for the Assembly elections — the higher the gravity of the situation, the wider the poll window – is also being finalised.

“We are certain of at least five phases of polling. There could be more. The details are being worked out,” the official added.

At Writers’ Buildings, chief secretary Samar Ghosh conceded that political clashes had increased over the past two years. “It is on record. The frequency of political clashes has risen in the last couple of years,” said Ghosh.

Sources in the government said the state administration is willing to “fully co-operate” with the commission to avoid any “friction” with the poll panel in the run-up to the elections.

“We will fully co-operate with the commission. We will help execute whatever action it decides to take on the basis of the report. We do not want any friction with the poll panel,” said a senior home department official.