Fresh nomination for polls on April 23

The West Bengal State Election Commission, after meeting with various political parties and representatives of the state government, selected April 23 as the extended day for filing nominations for the coming Panchayat polls, a senior official said on Saturday.

The meeting was convened following a Calcutta high court order to the SEC to make a fresh announcement extending the deadline for filing of nominations in consultation with the state government and other important stakeholders and finalise a new election schedule for the Panchayat polls.

However, the BJP boycotted the meeting. “Today, there was a meeting regarding the extension of the nomination deadline. Monday (April 23) would be the day for filing fresh nominations. The notice has not been issued yet. It might be issued by SEC later,” Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for Panchayat and Rural Development Saurabh Kumar Das said here. He said there were no discussions regarding fresh polling date.

Earlier in the day, representatives of various political parties met SEC Amarendra Kumar Singh and discussed their demands for polling process.

“We do not want the election to happen during too much heat or in the rainy season. We do not want the election to happen in the month of Ramadan either. It should be completed as soon as possible. However, we do not have any objection if one day of polling falls inside the month of Ramadan,” ruling TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said after meeting the SEC.

IANS

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