Calcutta High Court had ordered the deployment of central paramilitary forces in seven districts of West Bengal ahead of the panchayat elections in the wake of violence. Supreme Court had agreed to hear a plea by the West Bengal State Election Commission against the order by the Calcutta High Court for the deployment of central paramilitary forces before the panchayat elections start.
The forces will be deployed to stop any violence following the panchayat elections. Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had ordered central paramilitary forces to conduct a fair and witness a violence-free panchayat election after witnessing the law and order problem in West Bengal. The order came after incidents of violence were reported following the filling of nominations, which started on June 9. The panchayat elections are to start by July 8.
Following the Calcutta High Court Order, the WBSEC moved to the apex court to challenge the deployment of the central forces during the panchayat elections. The state Election Commission’s move is contradictory to the remarks that Rajiv Sinha the newly appointed state election commissioner made about the order. The plea was mentioned by Monika Arora, a senior advocate before the bench.
Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee had argued the decision to deploy the central forces during Panchayat Elections and added that central forces were sent to Manipur and violence has not ended there.
The Opposition parties have criticized WBSEC’s plea and the move to contest the order of the High Court and added that the cost of the deployment of the paramilitary forces will be borne by the centre and not by the state.
Seven people have been killed since the panchayat elections were announced. A BJP worker was found dead in the Cooch Behar district late Saturday. He was identified as Shambhu Das, he was a relative of a candidate.
The last panchayat elections in 2018 witnessed 20 murders and violence on a large scale. Oppositions alleged that their candidates were not allowed to file the nominations.TMC had won 90 percent of the seats out of which 34 percent were uncontested.
Edited By:Shanawaz Choudry
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