In an unprecedented flip-flop, the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) recalled its decision to extend till Tuesday the filing of nominations for panchayat polls in the State.

The poll panel’s order on Tuesday came barely 12 hours after the order to extend the date was issued on Monday, originally the last date for filing nominations.

Later, the BJP got the Calcutta High Court to stay the latest order of the poll panel. The party has also moved the Supreme Court, which will hear the matter on Wednesday.

With the BJP, the Left parties and the Congress alleging atrocities by the ruling Trinamool Congress, and media reports citing unabated violence, the Commission had on Monday evening extended of deadline for filing nomination to 3 pm on Tuesday.

However, on Tuesday afternoon, State Election Commissioner AK Singh came out with another notice cancelling the April 9 order on the basis of a petition from the Trinamool Congress Vice-President Kalyan Banerjee.

“On perusal of all the papers as stated above and considering all the points above, the Commission hereby recalls the said order and therefore rescinds the order dated April 9,” a statement from the SEC said.

The three-phase panchayat election will begin on May 1. Elections will be held for 58,000 seats, comprising 48,650 gram panchayat seats, 9,217 panchayat samiti seats and 825 zilla parishad seats.

BJP State president Dilip Ghosh told BusinessLine that his party could field nominations in only 35,000 seats in the face of the Trinamool Congress’ atrocities. According to a CPI(M) source, candidates in at least 40 per cent of the total seats will be elected unoppposed.

“Protection of the candidates and ensuring free and fair polls are prime responsibilities of the Election Commission. They failed on both counts,” Ghosh said.

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