Kolkata:
Four former Indian Police Service (IPS) officers will take on the ruling Marxists, for whom they had once worked, as Trinamool Congress candidates in the West Bengal assembly elections.
The candidates list announced by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee included former director general of police Hyder Aziz Safwi, former additional director generals Sultan Singh and Rachpal Singh and retired deputy inspector general Abani Mohan Joardar.
"Over-politicisation of every institution has ruined the entire system and administration in the state. They (CPI-M-led Left Front) have realised that the people are not going to accept them. That is why they are terrifying the people with arms,'' said a confident Safwi while campaigning in his area.
''The recent incident of Netai (where nine people were killed on Jan 7) also proves that. The people will elect us for a better and efficient government," he added.
He will take on Communist Party of India-Marxist's (CPI-M) new candidate Mohan Mondal in Uluberia East assembly seat in Howrah district.
"There has been no development in Bengal for the last 34 years, rural infrastructure, health education systems and overall the administrative machinery has collapsed. The people are keen to see a change and I am confident of winning," said Sultan Singh who will be contesting from Bally assembly constituency in Howrah district.
Singh will contest against CPI-M MLA Kanika Ganguly.
"I am not at all worried as I am not a newcomer in politics. I am in politics for the last eight years. After winning, I will focus on development and improving the basic amenities like health and education," said Singh.
Rachpal Singh, who will take on Marxist Forward Bloc MLA and state Fire and Emergency Services Minister Pratim Chatterjee in Tarakeshwar assembly seat in Hooghly district, said: "I am not scared of contesting against a state minister. It is going to be a very, very easy contest for me.
"I have been working in Tarakeshwar area for the last eight months. I have never seen my opponent as he has never been in the area. The area was totally overlooked and the people are now with me," he said.
"There is a lot of lawlessness in the area, people are being tortured and shattered by the Marxist cadres, so my first priority would be to restore law and order in the area," he added.
Abani Mohan Joardar, who will be contesting from Krishnagar North constituency in Nadia district, is also confident of taking on CPI-M MLA Subenoy Ghosh.
Six phase assembly polls will be held in West Bengal April 18 to May 10.