There was yet another legal setback for Bengal's Trinamool Congress Government with Calcutta High Court on Friday ruling that the atmosphere was not conducive for the Opposition candidates to safely campaign in the panchayat polls.
The court directed the administration to ensure security for the candidates and report before it on July 10 the next day of hearing. The five-phase elections for the panchayats were to begin from July 11.
In yet another embarrassing order for the State Government, Justice Sanjib Banerjee ruled that the situation was not conducive for the candidates to campaign safely in the run up to the panchayat polls.
Adjudicating a case filed by the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee demanding adequate security for its candidates contesting the polls the judge directed the top administration including the Home Secretary and Director General of Police to ensure the same for the candidates and report it on the next date of hearing on July 10.
“This order once again proves that the opposition parties are not bringing hollow charges. The order also vindicates the State Election Commission’s contention on the security scenario in the State that forced it to demand 800 companies of central forces,” PCC president Pradip Bhattacharya said alleging many of his party candidates were facing threats from the ruling Trinamool Congress to withdraw their nomination.
Already whopping 11 per cent of the total 55,000-plus seats have been won uncontested this time round with complaints of intimidation, threat and attack levelled by Opposition left, Congress and BJP against the ruling party. The Trinamool has been the biggest beneficiary of the uncontested victories.
The Friday’s order is the fourth successive judicial setback for the State Government which got repeated jolts on the dates of panchayat elections in Supreme Court before being told off by the High Court on the lackadaisical probe in the Kamduni-rape-and-murder case. This, apart from reversing a notification by the State Government banning largely circulated newspapers from Government and Government-aided public libraries.