The dates for holding the panchayat polls are still undecided as the stalemate between the West Bengal State Election Commission and the state government remained unresolved till late this evening.
Officials of the panchayat department and senior bureaucrats of Nabanna were supposed to meet the commissioner on Wednesday but the meeting was called off.
A meeting has been fixed on Thursday wherein a detailed discussion would be held on the probable dates, number of phases and the security plan. The commissioner had asked a detailed security plan from the state government, which the latter has prepared. It will be placed at the meeting on Thursday.
The dates for the rural polls are likely to be finalised at Thursday’s meeting following which necessary notifications would be issued. The state government wants the polls in either one or two phases on 14 and 16 May but the commission wants the elections in three phases ~ 14, 16 and 18 May.
As the last date of nomination was 23 April, election cannot be held before 21 days that means the earliest date for holding the first phase of polls is 14 May.
The commission initially maintained that the existing 58,000 police personnel are not adequate to maintain law and order if election was held in less than three phases.
Now, the state government’s security plan will provide a clarity as to whether two phases of polls can be conducted with the existing strength of police personnel. Meanwhile, several Muslim organisations on Wednesday urged the West Bengal State Election Commission not to hold the panchayat election during Ramzan.
The leaders of Muslim organisations said that the one month fasting for Ramzan will begin from 17 May and so polling should be completed before that. The counting of votes can be held during Ramzan, they said. The Muslim leaders even threatened to move court if the polling was held during Ramzan.
Trinamul Congress MLA Moinuddin Shams was the first to reach SEC office on Rawdon Street this morning followed by the Imam of Nakhuda Masjid, Maulana Md Shafique Qasmi.
They demanded that the polling should be completed by 16 May. The All Bengal Minority Forum led by Md Kamaruzzaman said that they had no problem if counting of votes is held during Ramzan but it will be very difficult if they are to cast their votes while fasting.
A similar demand was raised by the Progressive Youth Foundation. Mr Hafiz Shamsul Arfin, convener of Jama Masjid Delhi advisory council, said that the fasting continues for 19 hours and around 30 per cent of the total people of the state observes it.
On the other hand, BJP led West Bengal State Government Employees Parishad demanded deployment of central forces during the upcoming panchayat election for the safety of the on-duty polling staff.