The Calcutta High Court, hearing a contempt plea against the WB State Election Commission, ordered the commission to submit an affidavit by June 27, clarifying whether there was any willful delay in complying with the court’s orders.
The case will be heard on June 28.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court instructed the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) to request the deployment of Central Forces within a span of 24 hours for the upcoming panchayat elections. The court’s order states that the number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies deployed should not be fewer than the number requested for the panchayat elections held in 2013.
Against the backdrop of Opposition parties’ claims that the Trinamool Congress is resorting to violence and intimidation to dissuade their candidates from contesting the forthcoming July 8 elections, the Calcutta High Court made its decision.
The court acknowledged that the number of districts has increased since 2013 and that the upcoming election will be conducted in a single phase, unlike the five phases in 2013. The court’s ruling was issued in response to a contempt petition filed by the BJP and Congress.
In the lead-up to the Panchayat elections slated for July 8 in West Bengal, the state has experienced ongoing clashes, including a violent incident at the Block Development Office in Ahmadpur, Birbhum, where crude bombs were reportedly used. Tragically, a TMC worker was also fatally assaulted in the Malda district.
The Panchayat elections are scheduled to take place in a single phase on July 8, with the vote counting set for July 11.
These elections are expected to witness a fierce competition between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress, as they are perceived as a crucial test before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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Updated: 23 Jun 2023, 02:54 PM IST