Bengal panchayat polls on Thursday

The first phase of the crucial panchayat polls in West Bengal will begin tomorrow even as the ruling Trinamool Congress kept up its attack against the State Election Commission.

Criticising the state government for 'dilly-dallying', the Supreme Court had on July two refused to reschedule the dates of the polls which are to be conducted in five phases beginning from July 11 as per its direction. In the first phase, polling will be held in Bankura, West Midnapur and Purulia districts in the former Maoist stronghold of junglemahal.

Of the total 58,865 seats going to polls, 6,274 have been won uncontested, a majority by the Trinamool Congress. In all 1.7 lakh candidates are in fray in over 17 districts. Most panchayats and zila parishads are now under control of the Left Front.