The delegation of party’s state unit leaders handed over a letter addressed to the CEO and the Election Commission of India. “It is the unfortunate history of by-elections in West Bengal that the party in power, Trinamool Congress (TMC), uses every possible undemocratic means to intimidate voters to ensure their unfair victory… we request the ECl to ensure: Manning by CAPF for 100% of the booths, with no involvement of the State Police. CAPF to also check the identity of voters before permitting them entry in the polling booth,” the letter read.

“No civic volunteer/police/or in any nomenclature (should be) anywhere in the vicinity of polling booths/premises under any pretext like queue management, providing water, etc.,” it added.

The letter referred to a Supreme Court order dated October 15, related to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, saying that in “para 19 and 20, the Hon’ble Court has questioned the ‘legal source of authority for recruitment’, modalities, qualifications, verification of antecedents etc. of (civic volunteers)”.

The bypolls will be held in six constituencies of West Bengal– Sitai (SC), Madarihat (ST), Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, and Taldangra – on November 13, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23. Both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP have announced their candidate lists, while the Left and Congress are yet to announce their nominees.