SC sends Bengal BJP back to HC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to interfere in the rural polls in West Bengal and asked the BJP and CPI-M to approach the Calcutta high court with their grievances that include a demand to extend the deadline for filing nominations.

The apex court directed the parties to appear before the high court on Thursday where a hearing has been fixed. The CPI(M) had sought postponement of the elections till opposition candidates could file nomination papers.

The two opposition parties in the state are accusing workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress, led by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, of assaulting and intimidating their candidates amid widespread violence in the run-up to the panchayat polls on May 1, 3 and 5. Counting of votes will take place on May 8. The polls are being seen as a test of strength for the Trinamool and opposition BJP and Congress ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha polls.

The West Bengal unit of the BJP had moved the apex court on Wednesday, hours after the state poll panel suddenly recalled its decision extending till Tuesday the last date for filing of nominations, allegedly under pressure from the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The top court said the Calcutta high court is already seized of the matter and had passed an order the previous day, staying the State Election Commission’s (SEC) decision to recall its order extending the deadline by a day.

A bench of justices RK Agrawal and AM Sapre requested the high court to consider the matter on Thursday in accordance with the law.

“The Supreme Court asked us to go to the Calcutta high court with the appeal of postponing the polls. If the court’s decision goes against us, we will come back to the Supreme Court,” said Bikash Bhattacharyya, representing the CPI(M) in court.

Kabir Shankar Bose, an advocate who appeared for Bengal BJP in the apex court said, “We highlighted how pressure was mounting on the State Election Commission. The court expressed its concern and said the high court will decide the question of extension of the nomination window.”

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