SEC to fix new municipal election dates

The West Bengal State Election Commission, which has seen a change of guard recently, today told the Calcutta High Court that the dates for municipal body elections would be decided in consultation with the state government.
The SEC today prayed for adjournment of hearing on its petition that had sought early holding of elections to 17 municipal bodies, terms of which were to end in July.
Its counsel told Justice D Kargupta that it would finalise the dates for elections after discussion with the state.
Justice D Kargupta directed the Commission, which had its new commissioner S R Upadhyaya, and the state government to come with dates on September 10, till which the matter was adjourned.

The SEC under commissioner Mira Pandey had moved the high court seeking early elections to the 17 municipal bodies.
Pandey retired on July 23 and a new commissioner was appointed by the state government.
The Commission under the stewardship of Pandey had been at loggerheads with the state government since last year over holding of Panchayat elections.
The issue had led to a legal battle between the SEC and the state government and went up till the Supreme Court.