Mamata defends SEC meeting boycott

Defending Trinamool Congress' boycott of the all-party meeting convened by state election commission (SEC) here today, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came down heavily on SEC accusing it of taking unilateral decisions without consulting the state government.
"Today some people are questioning our absence (at the all-party meeting). Why should we go when they (SEC) are not listening to us and when they are taking unilateral decisions?" Banerjee asked while addressing a panchayat election rally here in South 24 Paraganas district.
The people, she said, would give a 'fitting reply' through ballots, said the chief of TMC, which has been loggerheads with the SEC over the holding of the rural polls and both sides had moved court.

Reiterating her party's stand that panchayat polls, slated to be held during Ramzan, would inconvenience Muslims in the state, she said there would also be difficulty due to possible heavy rains and floods. Scheduled examinations which were due to be held during the period have also to be deferred.
"Even election date has been been fixed on Jummabar (Friday prayer). Did not (SEC) feel it necessary to ask us ?
"Do they(SEC) not know how many examinations have to be cancelled? Did you not feel it necessary to ask us? Only opportunism is going on. If the people are unable to come to the voting centres because of the floods, the CPI(M) will be benefited," she said attacking the SEC.

The date of counting too was fixed on July 29 by SEC without consulting the state government.
"The assembly would be on then and state budget is due to be placed on July 31. Don't you think it necessary to consult us before deciding on this date (counting). We are an elected government. What will happen if the placing of the budget has to be deferred ? Do we have to place a vote on account budget because of this ?"
"This kind of opportunism will not work," she said and expressed confidence that her party would win the three-tier panchayat poll convincingly.