Rural polls: TMC, BJP workers clash during nomination filing, 6 policemen injured

Six policemen were injured today when the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers clashed at Usti in South 24 Parganas district over filing of nominations for next month's panchayat elections in West Bengal, the police said.

Today was the the last day for filing of nominations for the panchayat polls to be held on May 1, 3 and 5.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to extend the last date for the filing of nominations for the rural polls, saying it could not interfere with the election process.

The top court, however, granted liberty to all candidates to approach the West Bengal State Election Commission for appropriate relief.

The BJP had on March 6 told the apex court that "democracy is being murdered" in West Bengal as the ruling TMC was engaged in large scale violence and not allowing its candidates to file nominations for the panchayat polls.

The TMC leadership welcomed the apex court's ruling.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, however, said, "If the TMC tries to unleash violence on the days of the polls, it will be paid back in the same coin. If they attack us with bombs and pistols, we won't greet them with a plate of sweets."