The rural poll scene tended to turn murkier with a senior Bengal Minister on Sunday claiming that the Government was prepared with its next course of action if the State Election Commission moves the court seeking rescheduling of panchayat poll dates.
State Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee said, “The Commission should accept the decision of the Government and conduct a two-phase poll as announced by us because it is the prerogative of the Government to fix the dates of polls.”
Minister’s comments juxtaposed a parallel development whence BJP State president Rahul Sinha started making his first move meeting Justice (Retd) Bhagwati Banerjee to seek his opinion on the matter.
“We are taking legal opinions from experts,” Sinha said, adding his party had decided to move the court but would wait till the SEC confirmed its decision on Monday. The Commission which has all along been advocating a three-phase poll with the help of Central forces given the deteriorating law and situation in the State was likely to meet on Monday before making its own stance public.
Ignoring the Commission’s advice to conduct three-phase poll, the State Government had on Friday “unanimously declared the election dates for April 26 and 30”. Apart from BJP, Congress and left have also opposed the Government decision demanding three-phase polls.
“There is no question of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and we hope the Commission would accept the Government’s decision but if they want to walk in different direction they are free to do so and the Government is prepared to take its next step” Mukherjee said.
His Cabinet colleague and Industries Minister Partho Chatterjee said the Opposition had already “conceded defeat before battle has started,” adding that “if at all the left and the Congress are so strong then why do not they take us on in the field instead of fighting over phases. A party that can win in three phases can also win in two phases.”
Dwelling on the logic behind declaring two-phase elections Mukherjee said, “Three-phase polls with Central forces in every booth will mean and additional cost of `400 crore for the State Government which is not possible.” He further added that the State Government would deploy armed guards in every booth and “if necessary we will bring police force from neighbouring States.”
However, it was not the question of expenditure but a question of propriety and Constitutional stipulations, Justice Banerjee said, adding the Constitution clearly said that the SEC enjoyed the same power as the central Election Commission when it came to holding general elections and “all law that defies Constitution would stand to be thrown out in this regard.”
Meanwhile, all eyes were fixed at State Election Commissioner Meera Pandey known to be an upright officer who would take her decision on Monday. She had three options left before her. She could either accept the Government decision or approach the Governor making known her position that she would not be able to conduct the polls in the given circumstances or for that matter she could as well move the court, legal experts said.