“The state government was supposed to present the vote-on-account for the next four months. But it presented the full budget, which is a violation of the code of conduct. How can beneficiary schemes be announced after the election dates were declared. But the state government declared that the BPL people will get rice for Rs 2 for the rest of the year,” said Bhuniya.

According to EC guidelines, state governments must not to announce financial grants in any form or promises once the elections are announced by the Commission.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Debashis Sen said he had received several complaints about presentation of the state budget in placex of vote-on-account. “We have received the same complaints from both the Congress and Trinamool. We will look into the matter,” he said.

The Congress has filed another complaint with the EC, alleging that the law and order situation has deteriorated to a great extent in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura. In his compliant, Bhuniya mentioned that P Kumar, additional SP (Kharagpur), has been working for the CPM.

Meanwhile, state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said the state would ask for 270 companies of paramilitary forces whereas in the last panchayet election, the state had 190 companies of paramilitary forces.

“We also asked for fire personnel but the EC has ruled it out. We will get 1,000 forest officials who will be deputed for election duty. We will also deploy more than 10,000 home guards in several polling booths,” he said.

“Coming days are very crucial. I apprehend violence. Police have been told to be on guard everywhere,” he added.

Official faces FIR for ‘fake’ names
The Election Commission has directed the district magistrate of Nadia to file an FIR against a government official, who was caught adding fake names to the electoral roll. The official is posted in Tehatta in Nadia district.

CEO Debashis Sen said the EC has also asked the food corporation to stop issuing new ration cards until the election is over.

HC orders security for mela
The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the district police chief of North 24-Parganas to arrange for adequate security for the ‘Matua’ mela that is scheduled to begin from Tuesday at Thakurnagar. More than 10 lakh people gather at the mela. This year the leaders of various parties have already visited Thakurnagar to garner votes of the ‘Matua’ community. Thakurnagar comes under the Bongaon parliamentary constituency. Two persons from the mela committee had filed a writ petition last week alleging that the police did not take steps to provide security for the mela. The mela will end on April 4.