TMC welcomes SC directive on panchayat polls

The opposition's intention to postpone the upcoming election has been defeated, said the Trinamool Congress while welcoming the Supreme Court's decision of staying the Calcutta HC order to the State Election Commission on nominations filed through e-mail.

The Supreme Court today stayed the Calcutta High Court order asking the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) to accept nomination papers filed through e-mail for contesting the panchayat elections in the state.

"The people of the state want to cast their votes. We have full faith on the people of the state. But the opposition BJP, Left Front and the Congress were afraid of facing the election as they knew that they don't have the mass support," TMC party secretary general Partha Chatterjee told to reporters here.

He alleged that the three opposition parties have ganged up against the ruling TMC in order to stop the developmental work in the state.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, today asked the state poll panel to ensure "free and fair" panchayat elections on May 14 in the state.

It took note of the fact that almost 17,000 candidates have won the panchayat polls unopposed and therfore directed the state poll panel not to declare them as winners.

Talking about the SC's bar on declaration of unopposed candidates as winners, Chatterjee said the matter will be heard again on July 3.

"The tenure of this Panchayat ends in August. So there is nothing to worry about. We will abide by the court order," he said.

Following the apex court's direction, the SEC announced that the panchayat poll in West Bengal will be held on May 14.

The counting will take place on May 17 and repolling, if any, will be held the day before, SEC Secretary Nilanjan Shandilya said.

The Calcutta High Court earlier in the day expressed hope that the panchayat elections in West Bengal, whenever it is held, will be free, fair and peaceful, and left it to the government and State Election Commission to decide on security requirements.