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The West Bengal State Election Commission on Monday moved the Calcutta High court against the state government over the schedule of the Panchayat polls. In its petition, the commission sought the dismissal of the West Bengal government’s notification announcing the election schedule. It questioned the government’s authority to issue such an arbitrary notice.
The court is likely to take up the case on Tuesday.
Responding to the commission’s move, West Bengal Panchyat Minister Subrata Mukherjee said, “Whatever we have to say, we will say in court.” Mukherjee on Monday held a series of meetings with Advocate General Bimal Chatterjee and officials of state legal departments. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Mukherjee, as well as Bimal Chatterjee.
Earlier, defying the election commission’s suggestion for three-stage polls in the presence of central security forces, the West Bengal government had announced the polls would be held in two phases, April 26 and April 30, under the supervision of the state police.
Though the state government later altered the division of districts, following the commission’s objection, the panel’s demand for deployment of central forces for the elections remains a contentious issue. The commission said for the elections, 800 companies of central forces should be made available. The state government, however, refused to give in to the demand.
On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed a separate appeal in the high court, seeking the section of the West Bengal Panchayat Act that empowered the government to decide the poll dates be struck down. “Article 42 of the West Bengal Panchayat Act says the state can fix the poll dates. Article 43 of the same Act says if the state election commission has objections to the schedule, it should initiate consultation with the state government. Though these articles talk about consultation with the state election commission, it is not clear,” said West Bengal BJP president Rahul Sinha.
The Congress, too, rallied behind the election commission. “We are yet to see the copy of the petition filed by state election commissioner. After that, we will decide whether to join the petition,” said West Bengal Congress leader Arunava Ghosh. With the case now in court, the Panchayat elections are unlikely to be held within the scheduled deadline. As Panchayats in the state would be dissolved by June, if the matter is not settled till then, the government would have complete control.
