Have ensured level playing field for panchayat polls: SEC to HC

Refuting the Oppositions' allegations that it was working at the behest of the ruling TMC, the State Election Commission (SEC) today told the Calcutta High Court that it has taken all steps to ensure a level playing field for the upcoming panchayat elections.

The poll panel made the submission to Justice Subrata Talukdar, who has stayed the election process while adjudicating a bunch of pleas challenging the Commission's recent order withdrawing the extension of the deadline for filing nomination papers by candidates.

After hearing arguments on the pleas, the court reserved its judgement on them for tomorrow, while also extending the stay on the poll process till pronouncement of the judgement.

SEC secretary Nilanjan Shandilya submitted to the court that it had extended the nomination date in good faith, but withdrew the order following objections to it.

The state government and the TMC had objected to the extension on April 9, to which the SEC had cited a Supreme Court direction to "allay the apprehensions of intending candidates" in its notification extending the nomination process by a day.

Defending its decision to withdraw the extension on April 10, the SEC secretary said "an authority which has the power to issue an order also has the power to rescind it."