WB, poll panel may head for legal show down

After 3-hour long meeting, state election commisson refused to accept govt-announced panchayat poll dates

The tug-of-war between the West Bengal government and State Election Commisson over Panchayat poll schedule may head for a legal battle, with both sides showing no sign of compromise.

After a three-hour long meeting at its office here, the state election commisson on Monday refused to accept government-announced panchayat poll dates and sent a letter to the state government asking it to reconsider its decision.

"We have sent a letter as per Article 43(2) of West Bengal Panchayt Act. Hopefully, they will reconsider its decision," Tapas Roy, secretary, State Election Commission, said.

However, responding to a query on moving High Court seeking its direction on the issue, Roy said, "We have kept all options open. Decision will be taken as the situation demands.

"Speaking on the matter, West Bengal Panchyat minister Subrata Mukherjee said, "We will be sending a reply after consulting the chief minister. But how can we backtrack from poll dates, which are already being notified by the government?"

Last Friday, defying the election commission's suggestion for a three-stage polls in the presence of central security forces, the West Bengal government had announced that a two-phase election would be held April on 26 and 30 under the supervison of the police.

The government in its notification assigned a sperate date, April 30, to hold polls in the three Congress-dominated districts of Malda, Murshidabad, and North Dinajpur, whereas for the rest of the 14 districts, including those in Junglemahal, April 26 was assigned as the day of polling.

Barring TMC , all major political parties like the Left, Congress and BJP questioned the rationale behind choosing a separate poll date for the three districts, which has no major law and order problem, as compared to the other three districts in Naxal-affected Junglemahal - West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura. In fact, the state election Commison too had raised the issue, in its 11-page letter sent to state government on Monday.