WB Governor praises Mira Pandey

West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan complimented State Election Commissioner Mira Pandey for her sincere efforts in conducting the recently-concluded panchayat polls through in 'a satisfactory manner', despite grave odds.
In a letter written to Pandey, Narayanan said that the sheer grit and determination which Pandey had showed in holding the polls despite difficulties was praiseworthy.
Pandey had been targeted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers in the run up to the polls.
The Chief Minister had attacked Pandey without naming her on July 8 alleging that since the earlier Left Front government had appointed and extended her tenure, her government was unable to change her for not having a two-thirds majority in the state assembly.

The Chief Minister had also been critical of the SEC over deployment of central forces for the panchayat polls saying that the grassroots elections were held in 2001, 2003 and 2008 without them.
The SEC had moved the Supreme Court demanding adequate security arrangements which the Governor had supported.

The Chief Minister had also defended the ruling Trinamool Congress' boycott of an all party meeting called by the SEC on the panchayat polls saying it was not listening to the state government and was taking 'unilateral decisions'.
Transport minister Madan Mitra had alleged on July 24 that the SEC had hatched a plot with opposition parties against the Trinamool Congress in the panchayat elections.

He had alleged that after the elections the SEC would form a political party with the BJP, Congress and CPI(M).
He had also said that after the elections, "the SEC would have to wear bangles, earrings and hide behind a veil."
Law minister Chandrima Bhattacharya had earlier alleged that the SEC had wanted to suspend the elections which the Supreme Court did not allow after the apex court refused to reschedule the dates of elections for Ramzan and ticked off the state government for 'dilly dallying'.