Mamata welcomes Calcutta HC verdict on panchayat polls
0amata %anermee Zelcomes Calcutta HC’S verdict asking the State Election Commission to extend the nomination deadline and reschedule polling dates for the panchayat polls
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday welcomed Calcutta High Court’s verdict asking the State Election Commission to extend the nomination deadline and reschedule polling dates for the panchayat polls, saying her government wishes to complete the elections “as early as possible”.
Taking a veiled dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party that iled a petition against the SEC’S decision to cancel the extension on iling nomination on April 10, she said her party was not the one that moved to court to stall the election process.
“We welcome the court’s verdict. We were the one who wanted the election to take place. We did not move the court. Those who do not want the Panchayat elections, went to the court,” Banerjee told media persons at the state secreteriat Nabanna.
“However, we also have to look at people’s inconvenience due to the heat in summer. It would have been better to complete the election by May. Our government wishes to wrap up the election process in a democratic way as early as possible,” she said.
Banerjee said the dates of election were ixed by the SEC and the state government considering the natural calamities like heat wave, thunderstorms and rain.
“There might be too much heat in some districts later on. Also the possibilities of storm and heavy showers have to be kept in mind. If there is too much rain, how would the election take place? So it should be completed quickly,” she added.
Meanwhile, the BJP called the verdict a victory for the democracy-loving people and those not allowed to ile nominations.
“This is a historic verdict by the High Court. It has played a courageous role in saving the democracy in West Bengal. We welcome it,” BJP petitioner Pratap Banerjee told media persons.
Communist Party of India-marxist leader Rabin Deb expressed happiness over the entire Panchayat election process being rescheduled.
The Congress said the High Court’s verdict has proved the allegations against the ruling Trinamool Congress of pre-poll violence and attempting to inluence the SEC were correct.
“It is a moral victory for us. It has dealt a mortal blow to the ruling dispensation. But the verdict does not mean that everything about the election would be held in a peaceful manner from now on. For free and fair elections central force needs to be deployed,” said state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury.