With the first phase of panchayat election in West Bengal drawing near, the State Election Commission today said it was still in the dark about availability of security forces and said the government would be held responsible if it was not held in time.
State Election Commissioner Mira Pande said it would be writing to the state government tomorrow seeking a final clarification on the availability of forces to ensure the panchayat polls scheduled for July 2 are conducted freely and fairly.
"If the panchayat election in West Bengal is not held on time despite frantic bid by the SEC, the government will remain responsible entirely," Pande told reporters.
"It was the state government which had planned the first phase poll in nine south Bengal districts together. So it is its responsibility to provide adequate forces to conduct the election freely and fairly. Let it arrange it," she said.
Pande said the SEC did not know yet the availability of forces and their composition. "So we don't know how things will go. Let us see what the state government says."
"After going through the state government's reply, we shall decide what to do next- whether to inform the court about the entire matter or give up the idea of holding the election altogether," Pande said.
Pande noted that during filing of nominations security was inadequate.
