Left Front asks poll panel to check law and order

Accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of preventing rival candidates from filing nominations for the upcoming panchayat polls in West Bengal, the Left Front Saturday sought the intervention of the State Election Commission (SEC).

"The Trinamoll is not allowing candidates to file nominations," Left Front chairman Biman Bose said here.

He said that the "armed Trinamool motorcycle brigade" was preventing candidates from opposition parties from filing nomination papers by attacking, intimidating and using other coercive methods.

The veteran Marxist accused the SEC of not acting on these issues. "The SEC cannot just sit and look, it needs to act," said Bose.

He also accused police of being partisan and not acting on the complaints lodged.

"A section of police is being working for the Trinamool. This will create a very grave law and order situation in the state," he said.

Bose said that the Left Front will meet Governor M.K. Narayanan June 17 to submit a memorandum and will protest outside the SEC's office the next day.