BJP suggests all-party meet on panchayat poll impasse

Amid the ongoing tussle between the West Bengal government and the State Election Commission over holding of the panchayat elections, the BJP on Thursday suggested convening an all-party meeting to break the impasse.

"There is a difference of opinion between the state government and poll panel over holding of the panchayat election. In view of this an all-party meeting should be convened to sort out the problem," state BJP president Rahul Sinha told reporters here.

Noting that EC representatives should be invited to the all-party meeting, Sinha said if a decision could be taken after reviewing the situation it would be a remarkable achievement.

Differences of opinion cropped up between the Trinamool Congress government which wanted a two-phase poll and the EC which recommended a three-phase election under the supervision of central forces.

Asserting that it was the prerogative of the state government to decide the dates, panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee had earlier said that the dates would be notified after the vote on account was passed by the Assembly on March 15. EC in a letter to the state government last week had recommended a three-phase panchayat poll with deployment of central forces.