SC direction welcomed, WB govt blamed for creating

The Congress today welcomed the Supreme Court order rescheduling dates of the panchayat polls in West Bengal and directing that it be held in five phases, while the CPI(M) blamed the state government for 'creating complications'.

'It will help strengthen the democratic system and make it healthy and powerful. The system will be accelerated without any interference from the state government which sought to curb powers of the State Election Commission,' WBPCC President Pradip Bhattacharya told PTI over phone from Basanti in South 24 Parganas district.

Stating that the ruling Trinamool Congress has won 6,500 seats uncontested as per the previous poll schedule, he said that the presence of central forces would instill confidence among voters.

CPI(M) politburo member Suryakanta Mishra blamed the state government for creating complications in the poll process.

Stating that the Left Front has been demanding five phases for the rural polls from the beginning, Mishra said 'Had the Trinamool government been flexible, the complications could have been sorted out much earlier.'

The Supreme Court directed that five phase polls be held on July 11, 15, 19, 22 and 25 with the provision on an average of 35,000 security personnel for each phase by the Centre.