The state government seems to be more concerned about security arrangements on the day of counting for the panchayat polls, rather than the third and last phase of elections on Sunday.

The government is anticipating violence on May 21, the day of counting. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the grassroots level. Reports of simmering tension in districts, including West and East Midnapore, and especially in Nandigram, Howrah and South 24 Parganas has put the government on the edge. Opposition parties too expressed fear that the CPM will unleash terror in the districts after the poll results are announced. Taking a cue from Basanti, security arrangements have been stepped up for May 18 elections with armed police manning all the booths. Special arrangements have been made in Murshidabad and Cooch Behar where the CPM is pitted against the Congress and its ally Forward Bloc, respectively. Seven districts, including Murshidabad, Birbhum, Cooch Behar, Malda, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur, will go to the polls on Sunday.

Raj Kanojia, IG (Law and Order), said: “The situation is tense. We have reports that there is a possibility of violence on the day of counting in some parts of the state. We are not taking any chances, especially when counting will be in progress at the BDO offices at the grassroots level. We have already sent police teams to the BDO offices. On the counting day, additional forces will be deployed.”

He added, “Five companies of BSF will be deployed in sensitive areas across the state apart from contingents of armed police on the counting day. Senior officers of IG level will man the districts.”

“At the counting booths meant for one gram panchayat, we will allow only one agent from the political parties,” said S N Roychoudhury, Secretary of the State Election Commission.

According to sources in Writers’ Buildings, both the district police and the state intelligence branch have sent reports indicating possibility of large-scale violence on May 21 in parts of East and West Midnapore, including Nandigram, Ghatal, Debra, apart from South 24 Parganas and Howrah.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said: “We have already informed the State Election Commission of our fears. The CPM is planning to unleash large-scale terror during and after the poll results are announced. Despite rigging, we are confident of increasing our tally. This will give them more reasons to beat our supporters and burn their houses. I do not think the government will provide any protection.”

Congress, too, anticipates large-scale violence. Manas Bhuniya, senior leader, said: “This is a trend. Whoever wins, there will be violence after the poll results are announced.”