Adding to the ongoing controversy in West Bengal over preventing Opposition candidates from filing nominations for the Panchayat Polls; the State Election Commission on Tuesday reversed its order to extend the nomination filing deadline.
On Monday the Commission extended the deadline from Monday to Tuesday amidst uproar from BJP, Left and Congress over forcible prevention of their candidates in filing nomination by the ruling Trinamool Cadres.
TV footages of serious assault on Opposition candidates galore. There are also unconfirmed reports of killings and serious injuries across the State. No opposition party could file nominations in all seats. Most of the seats in at least one Zilla Parishad at Birbhum went uncontested. However, on Tuesday the Commission reversed its order and stuck to the original deadline of Monday, based on a petition from the Trinamool Congress.
The recall of the Monday’s order came following a letter from the state government and representation by the All India Trinamool Congress, which had apparently pointed out “legal infirmities” in the Commission’s order.
The decision was also based on the fact that “there was no specific direction by Supreme Court for extension of nomination date,” said the SEC order dated April 10. “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,” the SEC order said.
Panchayat elections in the state is set to be held in three phases — May 1, 3 and 5. The counting of votes will take place on May 8. Elections are to be held to 48,650 gram panchayat seats, 9,217 panchayat samiti seats and 825 zilla parishad seats.