The Election Commission of India has expressed concern over the significant number of police personnel assigned by West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police to provide personal security to Trinamool Congress leaders in the state. The Commission has raised issues about a perceived bias in the selection process for state-provided security, noting that ruling party leaders receive a disproportionately high level of security.
Before the election announcement, the West Bengal government deployed 2,185 police personnel to provide security to 832 individuals directly associated with the Trinamool Congress and 144 others, including supporters of the ruling party. In response to these findings, the Commission has instructed the Director General of Police, Sidh Nath Gupta, to conduct a thorough professional review within the next two to three days in a fair and impartial manner.
The Election Commission had previously instructed the withdrawal of state-provided security cover for tainted political leaders with criminal records, regardless of their political affiliations. The Commission set a deadline for the removal of such security cover by midnight on Thursday. It also mandated the withdrawal of security protection for leaders who were receiving unauthorized state-provided security despite not meeting the necessary criteria as per protocol.
