The West Bengal State Election Commission is likely to announce the dates of panchayat elections on Monday, sources said adding, however, the issue regarding the of paucity forces had yet to be sorted out as the Commission required about 80,000 armed personnel while the State Government could manage only half that number.
“The dates would be notified on Monday and the District Magistrates would notify the dates on their part on Tuesday and the filing of nominations would start from Wednesday,” a senior official said, adding the Commission was strictly adhering to the High Court directive asking it conduct the polls process within July 15.
The three-phased polls would be conducted on July 2, 6 and 9 the official said adding nine districts would go to elections in the first phase “as per the State Government’s advise” while polls would be conducted in four districts each in the next two phases. Going by the High Court directive the Commission would need more than 80,000 armed personnel whereas it had only about 40,000. The Commission had already wanted to know from the Government as to how it was proposing to manage the additional forces.
The two sides got involved in bitter conflict regarding the poll phases and deployment of security forces until things were taken to the HC for settlement. The Commission wanted the polls to be conducted with the help of central forces while the Government was for State forces.