In an apparent ploy to delay panchayat elections, the Mamata Banerjee Government decided to appeal before the Division Bench on Monday against a single bench order of Calcutta High Court favouring the State Election Commission’s decision to hold three-phased rural polls under the supervision of central forces.
The State wanted two-phased polls with the help of State police.
After a marathon meeting with State Advocate General Bimal Chatterjee Panchayat Minister Subroto Mukherjee on Sunday said that the Government would challenge the Friday order before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
Throwing out once again the left and Congress’ argument that the Government was intentionally deferring the polls in order to evade a defeat before the parliamentary elections Mukherjee said “given current political situation Trinamool is undefeatable” reminding it was the opposition outfits and the Commission that had moved the Court in the first place and not the Government.
The Commission had demanded three-phased polls under the supervision of central forces citing reports from the district SPs and moved the Court after the Government turned down its advise and declared the polls unanimously.
“The Government wants an implementable order and if we do not get that then we could even move the Supreme Court,” Mukherjee said dropping hints that panchayat elections could be a far cry in the present circumstances.
Union Minister Jairam Ramesh had said that the Central funds could get blocked if new panchayats were not elected on time. For Bengal the terms of most elected panchayats would end between June and August. And if no elections were held then the State could lose Rs 8,000 crore for rural development.
“There will be no problem because despite similar situations Andhra Pradesh is getting funds for the past two years for rural development” Mukherjee however said adding the Government would bring an ordinance and appoint administrators to run the panchayats and samitis and district boards.
While political pundits explained the Government tactic in terms of its anticipation of a political change in the Centre wherein the Bengal Chief Minister could get a bigger role to play in the national politics, opposition left and the Congress said the Trinamool chief was more afraid of her own party men than the opposition in the panchayat polls.
“It will not only be risky for the Trinamool to hold panchayat elections in the wake of chit fund scam and deteriorating law and order situation that has affected lakhs of people but also it will expose the infighting for tickets at the lowest level which will hamper party’s unity in the general elections” said CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakrabarty adding by getting to defer the polls Banerjee was saving her party two disgraces in one go.
Bengal Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya said the “TMC is afraid of losing which is why it is delaying the panchayat elections.”