Panchayat polls now depend on Mamata regime's whims: CPI-M

Claiming the panchayat polls depend on the whims of the Mamata Banerjee regime, the CPI-M Sunday said the ruling Trinamool Congress's attempts to disrupt and upset the elections will result in ruining the rural economy of West Bengal.

Addressing a party rally in Burdwan district, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader and former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee accused the Trinamool of trying to ensure the polls do not happen.

"There never has been so much uncertainty over the panchayat polls. From taking on the State Election Commission (SEC) to unleashing terror on the opposition, the Trinamool is trying all measures to ensure the polls do not happen," he said.

Bhattacharjee said that a large number of Left Front candidates have not been allowed to file nominations, letting the Trinamool to win the seats uncontested.

"The polls now entirely depend on the Trinamool's whims. They either want to win it uncontested by unleashing terror on rivals or won't allow the polls to happen at all," said the veteran Marxist.

Observing that the state's rural economy turned around due to the efficient panchayat system of the Left, Bhattacharjee said the current uncertainty over the fate of the polls was an attack on the village economy.

"The attack is not on us but it is on the democracy. It is on the whole state, which is hurtling towards destruction," he added.

With just over a week left, uncertainty looms over the July 2, 6 10 polls, as the SEC and the state government continue to battle out in court over security arrangements.