The Election Commission has identified six of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal as ‘financially sensitive’, sources told News18 on Tuesday. The six constituencies are Maldaha North, Maldaha South, Darjeeling, Asansol, Bangaon, and Kolkata North.
The poll panel has also directed the central agencies handling finance-related matters such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department to keep a special vigil on these six constituencies in the run-up to the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls starting April 19.
In the Maldaha South constituency, English Bazar, Sujapur, Mathabari and Farakka areas have been declared as financially sensitive. Sources in the EC said the declaration has been made on the basis of track record in these seats.
Both English Bazar and Sujapur fall near the India-Bangladesh border, making them prone to circulation of fake currency and contraband. News18 reached out to Prasun Banerjee, the Maldaha South candidate of the ruling TMC, but he declined to comment.
The Bangaon seat, too, falls near the international border, making it sensitive to illegal movement of cash and drugs. In May 2023, the STF had recovered heroin worth Rs 2 crore from the area.
Welcoming the move, BJP leader Jiten Tiwari told News18: “We welcome this. The EC might have got this feedback the last time as there was huge flow of money. This will help to stop that.”
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said that a special portal will be launched involving the central agencies with expertise in probing financial irregularities to prevent the use of money power in elections.
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