Senior CPI(M) leader Suryakanta Mishra today alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal was bent on delaying the panchayat polls.
"The state government appears all set to delay the panchayat elections and it lacks the political will to hold it in time," Mishra, the Leader of the Opposition, told a seminar here.
Mishra alleged that the state government had least respect for the democratic process and wanted to run the panchayats by appointing administrators.
Meanwhile, state BJP president Rahul Sinha reiterated the party's demand for holding the elections under the supervision of central forces.
"The panchayat elections will not be free and fair unless held under the supervision of the central forces. The state government requires central forces as it does not have enough police under its disposal," Sinha said.
While the state government wants to hold the elections with its own police and if necessary, requisition them from neighbouring states, the SEC, which has gone to court has been adamant on deployment of central forces.
