New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again raised concerns regarding the Election Commission’s impartiality through a social media post on Thursday. She accused the Commission of “summarily and arbitrarily” dismissing over 50 senior officials in the lead-up to the Assembly elections scheduled for the end of April.

In her post on ‘X’, she expressed that the Election Commission's specific targeting of Bengal was both unprecedented and deeply troubling.

Banerjee pointed out that even before the official election notification, more than 50 senior officials—including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, ADGs, IGs, DIGs, District Magistrates, and Superintendents of Police—had been dismissed, which she characterized as political interference rather than administrative action.

She emphasized that the ongoing politicization of institutions designed to remain neutral constitutes a direct affront to the Constitution.

At a time when a flawed SIR process is in motion and over 200 lives lost, she remarked that the Commission's actions reflect a bias towards political agendas, thereby jeopardizing the safety of Bengal’s citizens.

Despite Banerjee's nine-paragraph critique, the law-and-order situation in the state, particularly during elections, has historically been contentious. Reports suggest that West Bengal experiences more severe challenges during elections compared to nearby states like Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha.

While crime may surge during elections in neighboring states, Bengal's intense political rivalry and border issues contribute to a particularly unstable electoral environment.

One of the most tragic events in recent memory occurred during the panchayat polls on July 8, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen individuals—seven from the ruling Trinamool Congress, two each from the BJP and CPI(M), and one from the Congress.

Violence has also marred the 2021 Assembly elections and the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The rape and murder of an intern at Kolkata’s R G Kar Hospital in August 2024 sparked widespread protests led by medical interns and doctors across India.

Currently, investigations and legal actions against various Trinamool leaders for involvement in scams related to education, cattle, and coal smuggling have garnered significant attention.

Political clashes, often escalating into violence, have been widely reported, many arising from internal disputes among local Trinamool leaders.

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates that crime trends correlate closely with political events. According to NCRB statistics up to 2023, Bihar leads in registered IPC crimes from 2021 to 2023, followed by West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Jharkhand.

West Bengal, which shares international borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, remains a focal point in discussions about illegal immigration. NCRB's 2023 report noted the highest number of crimes involving foreign nationals in the state—1,021 cases, primarily under the Foreigners Act of 1946 and the Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939.

Previously, elections in Bengal were conducted in multiple phases, sometimes extending to eight, to aid the deployment of central forces and polling officials. This has now been streamlined to two phases, with a strong emphasis on maintaining law and order.

In a significant move to bolster security for the upcoming Assembly elections, plans are in place to deploy around 2,500 companies of central forces for each phase.

Central forces will conduct route marches, and quick response teams will be stationed to ensure a transparent and peaceful voting process, as stated by poll officials.