BARRACKPORE – Union Minister Rajnath Singh has strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her recent comments regarding the deployment of Central forces, calling her rhetoric “unfortunate” and an unnecessary attack on autonomous institutions.
The Controversy: Central Forces vs. State Sovereignty
The row began after the Chief Minister claimed that 200 vehicles carrying central forces were being sent from Uttar Pradesh to “attack” the people of Bengal.
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Rajnath Singh’s Response: Speaking during a roadshow in Barrackpore, Singh clarified that paramilitary forces are deployed in every state during elections as a standard procedure to ensure a “fear-free and fair” voting process.
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Defense of the EC: Singh emphasized that the Election Commission (EC) is an autonomous body and that pointing fingers at its operational decisions undermines democratic integrity.
Massive Deployment for 2026 Assembly Polls
The scale of security for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections is unprecedented:
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Record Numbers: The EC is deploying nearly 2.4 lakh Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel across the state.
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Comparison: This far exceeds the 92,000 personnel stationed during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which was previously the highest figure recorded.
Political War of Words
The Chief Minister has accused the BJP of using the voter roll revision as a “ruse” to disenfranchise Trinamool supporters. In response, Rajnath Singh dismissed allegations of religious polarization, stating that the BJP practices the “politics of justice and humanity” while accusing the TMC and Congress of dividing the country on religious lines.
As the campaign intensifies, Singh asserted that the overwhelming crowds at BJP rallies are a “crystal clear” sign of an impending shift in the state’s government.
