SEC yet to receive government information on poll security

Even as notification for the first phase of panchayat election in West Bengal was issued today, the State Election Commission said it was yet to receive any information from the government regarding deployment of security forces during polling.
"The SEC has not received any information from the state government regarding security forces (for the panchayat poll). We expect that the state government will let us know by tomorrow at least," State Election Commissioner Mira Pandey told reporters here.
From today, all officers, who would be involved in the poll process, came under the SEC, she said.
Asked why the SEC issued notification today for the first phase of rural polls, she pointed out that the High Court had given a time schedule and "we had to follow it".

"We hope that the state government will take due note of the court order," Pandey said.
Responding to a question on what step the SEC would take if it failed to get the required force, Pandey replied, "We will decide it at a later stage. We cannot say anything now about it until we get a report from the state government."

"SEC has already written to the state government about its position and how much force will be required (for holding the election freely and peacefully). The state government is aware of it," she remarked.
"Today we issued notification. The Commission will do everything to hold the election in a free and fair manner," she said.

Pandey also said that the SEC had asked the state government to arrange adequate security so as to enable candidates to file their nominations freely.
The date for filing of nomination for the first phase of poll in nine districts will start on May 29.
The SEC and the Trinamool Congress government had major disagreement over deployment of security forces during polling and the timing of the election.
The matter ultimately went to the Calcutta High Court with the poll panel praying for judicial intervention in the dispute.