The West Bengal government sent on Tuesday a fresh proposal to the Union Home Ministry for 300 companies of Central forces for deployment during the coming rural polls in 17 districts of the State.
“We have sent a fresh proposal to the Centre demanding 300 companies of Central forces. We have also requested three State governments — Punjab, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh — for additional forces,” Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra told journalists at the State Secretariat.
This comes a day after the State Election Commission had sent a letter to the State government seeking details of security forces that it had been able to requisition for the three-phase rural polls on July 2, 6 and 9.
The election panel had also said that it would not hold further discussions with the State government on the matter.
A legal tussle is on in the Calcutta High Court between the election panel and the State government over the question of security forces for the polls.
