Trinamool trying to disrupt panchayat polls: CPI-M

Observing that non-conduct of the panchayat polls would be a disaster, the CPI-M Sunday accused West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress of trying to disrupt the elections to the rural government bodies.

"Nobody is sure if the panchayat polls would be held. Will it be possible to hold rural polls? The intentions of the state government regarding the rural polls are not good," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said at a rally at Bongaon in North 24-Parganas district.

"It would be a disaster if the panchayat elections are not held. We had set up the example of panchayat system before the entire country and now we can see it falling apart," said Bhattacharjee, a former chief minister.

The veteran Marxist accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government of deliberately defying the State Election Commission's recommendation regarding the polls, despite a court order.

"It is unimaginable that the dispute between the state government and the commission went to court," said Bhattacharjee about the legal battle over the conduct of polls slated to be held July 2, 6 and 9 in 17 districts of the state.

Bhattacharjee said that the Trinamool was apprehensive of a defeat in the panchayat polls and consequently it had brought in a reign a terror in the state, preventing the opposition parties from completing procedural formalities for the polls.

"More than 5,000 of our candidates have not been able to file nomination papers and are constantly subjected to threats and intimidation from the ruling party to withdraw from the elections," said Bhattacharjee, adding that the administration has been reluctant to prevent the attacks.