The taste of victory after a troublesome month surrounding a chit fund gone bust prompted West Bengal’s chief minister Mamata Banerjee to exclaim in delight, ‘All’s well that ends well’. The reason being a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday rejected the state election commission’s (SEC) order for 800 companies of central forces to man the state’s panchayat poll, and directed that the election be held in three phases.
The court also ruled that the process be completed by 15 July. Welcoming the court’s order, Banerjee said people in rural Bengal would be able to vote peacefully and also criticised the opposition parties for putting obstacles in holding of the polls. ‘We will conduct the poll in a free and fair manner,’ she said.
The court also ruled the state government could conduct the polls with the help of the police force at its disposal and call for reinforcement from other states/Centre if required. The SEC has been lobbying for use of paramilitary forces during polls all along-a notion defeated by the court verdict.
The court also ruled that the process be completed by 15 July. Welcoming the court’s order, Banerjee said people in rural Bengal would be able to vote peacefully and also criticised the opposition parties for putting obstacles in holding of the polls. ‘We will conduct the poll in a free and fair manner,’ she said.
The court also ruled the state government could conduct the polls with the help of the police force at its disposal and call for reinforcement from other states/Centre if required. The SEC has been lobbying for use of paramilitary forces during polls all along-a notion defeated by the court verdict.