Trinamool govt doesn't want panchayat polls: Congress

Alleges that Trinamool-govt is trying to scuttle panchayat poll by creating a constitutional crisis

Congress today alleged that the Trinamool Congress-government is trying to scuttle the panchayat poll by creating a constitutional crisis. State Congress chief Pradip Bhattacharya said the TMC government seemed not keen to hold the polls at all in the state and that is why it is using "such tricks."

"The state government is deliberately trying to create a constitutional crisis so that the panchayat poll is not held on time. It doesn't want panchayat polls to be held, that is why it is using such tricks," Bhattacharya alleged. Earlier today, state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee questioned the logic behind the State Election Commission's seeking 800 companies of central forces.

Mukherjee told reporters after meeting Governor M K Narayanan over the issue today that "Panchayat election was never held under the supervision of central forces in any state and there is no guarantee that 800 companies of central forces will be available even if it is sought. We don't agree if anybody raises question about law and order in the state."

Bhattacharya, throwing weight behind the SEC's demand of 800 companies central forces to conduct the crucial election, attacked Mukherjee for not agreeing with the SEC.

"The state government has money to spend on festivals and functions but doesn't have money to call central forces. This is ridiculous," he said.

The government had earlier issued a notification for a two-phase panchayat election on April 26 and 30. Later, the schedule was tweaked to bring Malda, Murshidabad, North and South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts in the April 30 phase and the other 11 districts in the April 26 leg.