Kolkata: Vivek Dubey joins as central police observer replacing general R K Sharma

Vivek Dubey, who replaced former BSF director general R K Sharma as the central police observer for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal arrived in the city Sunday. According to Election Commission sources, Dubey, a 1981 batch IPS officer, would meet representatives of different political parties separately on Monday morning.

He would also hold video conferences with district magistrates and superintendents of police of eight districts which are slated to have Lok Sabha polls in the first three phases, the sources said. Ruling Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) had objected to the appointment of Sharma on grounds of neutrality.

Dubey would also be looking into the deployment of central and state forces during the elections, the source said. Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal will be held in seven phases. The first, second and third phases of the polls are scheduled on April 11, April 18 and April 23.