EC-State duel shifts from forces to formula in Bengal

KOLKATA:Differences between the West Bengal government and the State Election Commission (SEC) over holding of the panchayat elections showed no signs of relent on Friday despite official notification for scheduling the polls on July 2, 6 and 10. It is learnt that the poll panel has no objection in the government’s notification over poll dates. But it is not ready to accept the government’s formula of 9-4-4 pattern for the three-phase elections, according to which, nine districts will go to polls on July 2, four on July 6, and the rest four on July 10. The panel had moved court after the state refused to use central forces for the elections.

A division bench had on Tuesday ruled in favour of the state and the government announced the poll dates late on Thursday. The state government sent a copy of the notification to the commission on Friday, but the commission will not issue its notification this week. This clearly indicates that differences between the government and the panel on certain issues are far from over. It is mandatory for the commission to issue poll notification and elections cannot be held without it.

According to the notification , East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia , South 24-Parganas , North 24-Pargans , Howrah, Hooghly and Burdwan will go to polls on July 2. On July 6, elections will be held in Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and Birbhum, while Jalpaiguri , Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur will go to polls on July 10. The opposition CPM and Congress, meanwhile, moved the poll panel against setting of July 10 for polls in four North Bengal districts.

According to them, Rathyatra and Ramazan fell on that day and it might not be possible for the electors to exercise their franchise. They have urged the SEC to fix another day for holding the elections in North Bengal. It is learnt that the panel has prepared another formula , which suggested that polls should be conducted in five North Bengal districts of Jalpaiguri , Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Malda and one South Bengal district of Murshidabad on July 2. On July 6, North 24-Parganas , South 24-Parganas , Birbhum, Nadia and Hooghly should go to polls and, on July 10, West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia, Burdwan and Howrah will go to polls.