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Holding a peaceful Lok Sabha poll in West Bengal without despatch to the State of a few companies of armed policemen from other States is impossible. Chief Minister Jyoti Basu expressed this view in a letter written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. M.S. Gill on 29th July.

Basu said it was not possible to hold the election peacefully without deployment of adquate number of armed policemen during the poll. Referring to his telephonic talks with the CEC he said he welcomed the EC decision to hold a one-day poll in the State but this would be impossible without deployment of adequate number of armed policemen on the occasion. From the past experience it was clear that polling personnel refused to go their respective polling stations without being accompanied by adequate number of policemen. Since the election in other states will be over before 1st October -- the day the election will be held in West Bengal ---- Mr. Gill could arrange for sending a few companies of armed policemen procuring them other States so that a peaceful poll could be ensured in the State. If such arrangement for despatch of additional companies of policemen is not made it would be difficult to hold the election in one day in the State, Basu added.