WB govt announces sops ahead of panchayat polls

The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal today announced sops for panchayat employees ahead of the grassroot poll even as the State Election Commission is yet to announce a notification for it.
Denying that the sops were politically motivated, panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee told reporters that the government has full authority to declare facilities and promotional opportunities for panchayat employees when the SEC has not issued notification for the polls.
The 11-point sops include raising of BPL widow pension and old-age pension under the Indira Gandhi National Widow and old-age pension schemes.
Rejecting the State Election Commission's proposal to hold three-phase poll for the three-tier panchayat system in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led government on Friday last had unilaterally issued notification for holding the panchayat elections in two phases.

While the elections in 14 districts will be held on April 26, the government has fixed April 30 for holding the polls in the three districts of North Dinajpur, Malda and Murshidabad - all Congress bastions.
Meanwhile, in a veiled attack on SEC, Trinamool general secretary Mukul Roy said, "Trinamool Congress government was formed with two-thirds majority and it knows its constitutional responsibilities. It has announced dates remaining within its constitutional rights. We hope other constitutional bodies should also function as per constitution."
Roy also did not attach much importance to state Election Commissioner Mira Pandey meeting Governor M K Narayanan for a second time during the day saying, "Anybody can meet the Governor."

The SEC has suggested deployment of Central forces for the grassroots elections.