Saayoni Ghosh calls CRPF poll deployment 'state of war' in Bengal
Synopsis
TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh's 'state of war' remark over CRPF deployment in West Bengal cuts to the heart of a long-running battle between the state's ruling party and the Election Commission. With allegations of voter list deletions, out-of-state observers, and BJP intimidation piling up, the second phase of polling is as much a political flashpoint as an electoral exercise.
Key Takeaways
TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh on 29 April called the CRPF deployment during West Bengal Assembly polls a "state of war".
She claimed observers from Uttar Pradesh , Gujarat , and Madhya Pradesh were deployed, alleging they have no connect with local people.
Ghosh accused the BJP of conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) two months before elections to delete legitimate voter names.
She alleged that state officers were transferred and voters were being intimidated to suppress TMC -favourable turnout.
Ghosh expressed confidence in a TMC victory, saying the people's mandate will be clearly reflected in results.
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Saayoni Ghosh on Wednesday, 29 April described the large-scale deployment of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel for the ongoing West Bengal Assembly polls as a "state of war", asserting that only the Navy and Air Force were yet to enter the state. Her remarks came during the second phase of polling in the state, as she spoke to news agency IANS in Kolkata.
Ghosh's Remarks on Central Forces
The Trinamool Congress MP did not mince words in her criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s decision to deploy central forces across polling booths. Ghosh said: "There's just the Air Force and Navy who are left to enter the state. There are tanks around; it is like a state of war in Bengal." She further alleged that the scale of the deployment reflected what she called the desperation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "It shows the desperation of the BJP and how they can see that the ground is slipping away from their feet," she added.
Allegations Against BJP and Poll Observers
Echoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's earlier allegations, Ghosh claimed that poll observers from outside West Bengal — specifically from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh — had been deployed in the state. "They don't know our language and who have no connect with the people," she alleged. She also accused the BJP of conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) just two months before the election, alleging that it was used to delete names of legitimate voters from electoral rolls. "They are doing everything possible from exploiting agencies to conducting a Special Intensive Revision just two months before the election, deleting the names of legitimate voters to intimidating voters," she said.
TMC's Position on Free and Fair Polls
Ghosh maintained that the Trinamool Congress is committed to free and fair elections and denied that her party needed to resort to violence. She expressed confidence that the people of Bengal stand firmly behind Chief Minister Banerjee. "The BJP may keep doing all these things but Mamata Banerjee is standing firm with Bengal and its people," she said. She also alleged that the BJP was attempting to intimidate voters to suppress polling percentages in favour of the ruling party.
Confidence Ahead of Results
Sounding assured of a TMC victory, Ghosh said the final electoral verdict would speak for itself. "When the results come out, there's going to be a clear reflection of the people's mandate," she stated. This comes amid a fiercely contested election cycle in West Bengal, where the BJP has mounted a sustained challenge to TMC's decade-long grip on the state. The deployment of central forces during Bengal polls has been a recurring flashpoint between the state government and the ECI in multiple election cycles.
Point of View
But it reflects a structural tension that predates this election cycle — the TMC has consistently resisted central force deployment as an encroachment on state authority, while the ECI and BJP argue it is essential for free polling in a state with a documented history of booth violence. The SIR controversy deserves scrutiny independent of party lines: if voter deletions occurred in the run-up to polls, that is an institutional failure regardless of who benefits. What is missing from the TMC's narrative is any acknowledgment of West Bengal's own electoral track record under its watch, which critics argue is far from unblemished.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Saayoni Ghosh call the CRPF deployment a 'state of war'?
TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh used the phrase to criticise the large-scale deployment of CRPF personnel by the Election Commission of India during the West Bengal Assembly polls. She alleged the scale of deployment — which she said left only the Navy and Air Force out — was excessive and reflected BJP desperation rather than a genuine law-and-order need.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that Ghosh referred to?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an electoral roll revision exercise conducted by the Election Commission. Ghosh alleged it was carried out just two months before the West Bengal elections and was used to delete the names of legitimate voters, though these allegations have not been independently verified.
Who are the poll observers Saayoni Ghosh objected to?
Ghosh alleged that poll observers from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh were deployed in West Bengal, claiming they were unfamiliar with the local language and had no connection with the people of the state.
What is TMC's position on the West Bengal Assembly elections?
The Trinamool Congress has maintained it supports free and fair elections and does not need to resort to violence, expressing confidence that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee retains strong public support across the state.
How significant is central force deployment in West Bengal elections historically?
The deployment of central forces during West Bengal polls has been a recurring point of contention between the TMC-led state government and the Election Commission over multiple election cycles, with the state government consistently opposing it and the ECI maintaining it is necessary for peaceful polling.
