Bengal SEC withdraws extended deadline for panchayat poll nominations

In a U-turn, the West Bengal Election Commission today withdrew the extended deadline for filing nominations for next month's panchayat elections in the state.

State Election Commissioner A K Singh cancelled the poll panel's earlier order which had extended the deadline for filing nominations, sources in the commission said.

Opposition parties -- the BJP and the CPI(M) -- alleged that the State Election Commission (SEC) was forced by the ruling Trinamool Congress to cancel its previous order extending the deadline.

The new notification issued by the SEC said, "It appears that there was no specific direction by the Supreme Court of India for extension of the nomination date. Therefore on perusal of all the papers and considering all the points, the Commission hereby recalls the said order and therefore rescinds the (previous) order."