West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar writes to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting for immediate intervention in the security situation of West Bengal's Panchayat Elections. At least three people died after supporters of Trinamool Congress and BJP clashed when they were on their way to file nominations for the panchayat polls. Incidents of violence were also reported from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, and Saithia in Birbhum district over the filing of nominations on the last day. Polling for nearly 75,000 seats in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system will be held on July 8.
Majumdar also visited the residence of a candidate of the party whose house was vandalised in Jyotishpur area of Basanti in South 24 Parganas.
Ironically, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday asserted that the panchayat poll nomination process in Bengal is peaceful, while slamming opposition parties for trying to make an issue out of “one or two stray” incidents.
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered the requisition and deployment of central forces for the West Bengal panchayat elections scheduled to be held on July 8. The court also left it to the discretion of the State Election Commission (SEC) to take a call on extension of time for filing of nominations, refusing to consider a prayer in this regard.
