Poll vault at Lalgarh,elections uncertain

With the Police Santrash Virodhi Janagoner Committee adhering to its stand of not allowing police into Lalgarh during the elections and the state government willing to avoid bloodshed...

With the Police Santrash Virodhi Janagoner Committee adhering to its stand of not allowing police into Lalgarh during the elections and the state government willing to avoid bloodshed,elections for the Jhargram constituency remain uncertain.

While the government says if it will not be able to deploy police it will recommend to the Election Commission not to hold elections in the area,the committee warns of bloodbath if the government pushes in security forces.

Elections cannot be held without police. Law and order situation in Lalgarh is poor but we will not do anything that vitiates the atmosphere. The EC will have to decide about holding the elections in the area, Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said at the Writers Buildings on Friday. Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said if sending police to Lalgarh triggered violence,the government would refrain from doing so. Our aim is to avoid bloodshed at any cost, the official said.

Lalgarh,with 44 polling booths,comes under the Jhargram constituency. According to EC officials,elections of a few blocks of a constituency cannot be deferred. If needed,the election of an entire constituency can be postponed.

Chakrabarti also said if it required the election of the entire constituency would have to be postponed. CEO Debashis Sen had earlier invited tribal leader Chhatradhar Mahato for talks. But being busy Mahato could not meet the official. He,however,said he was ready for discussions if he was invited again.

I am still waiting for the call, Mahato said on Friday.

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