Central forces will sit in barracks during polls: Achuthanandan

Kochi, Nov 2

Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Monday said the central paramilitary forces will have to "sit in barracks" during Nov 7 by-elections in the state.

"If they have to walk around through the villages in Kannur, they have to get the permission of the state police and the state government, which they will not get," said Achuthanandan while addressing an election meeting here.

Three companies of central forces, about 270 troopers, have arrived in Kannur district and Monday evening conducted a route march.

Elections take place to Kannur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha seats after Congress legislators from these constituencies got elected to the Lok Sabha in the May 2009 general elections.

Kannur District Collector P. Salim told reporters that the assembly constituency has been divided into 64 divisions and the forces will take over all the polling booths Friday.

Reacting to Achuthanandan's statement, Kannur MP and Congress leader K. Sudhakaran said: "Once an election is declared, it is the Election Commission, and not the state, that is responsible for the conduct of the election in a free and fair manner."

At Kannur, the Election Commission had to intervene and remove District Collector V.K. Balakrishnan, following complaints from the Congress that he is acting as an agent of the Left.

Last updated on Nov 2^nd, 2009 at 21:49 pm IST--IANS

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