The State Election Commissioner (SEC) has ordered videography of the nomination filing process in West Bengal Panchayat elections after opposition parties raised the demand. This comes after West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose vowed that the upcoming Panchayat elections would be free and fair. He assured that violence will not be tolerated at any cost and that every effort will be made to ensure that the polls are peaceful. Bose made the remarks following a meeting with the State Election Commissioner.
"Looking at the ongoing violence in the process of nomination filing, the State Election Commissioner has ordered the videography of the Nomination filling process in West Bengal Panchayat elections to be held on July 8 for the free and fair proceedings of nomination filing," the SEC stated, as per news agency ANI.
ALSO READ | 'Grim Law And Order Situation': Bengal BJP Chief Meets Guv Urging Central Forces In Panchayat Polls
The West Bengal Governor on Saturday expressed confidence that the elections will be held in a free and fair manner. He stated that the SEC has assured him that all necessary preparations have been made to ensure peaceful elections.
The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the state election commission to consider deploying central forces during the elections and to extend the deadline for filing nominations. Opposition parties, including the Congress and the BJP, had petitioned the Court for the deployment of central forces during the elections as well as more time to file nominations.
The BJP demanded that CCTV cameras be installed in every polling station, while the Congress said that central forces were needed to prevent the violence and intimidation that occurred during the 2018 panchayat elections.
TMC MP Saugata Roy argued that the high court issued an observation rather than a verdict. "It may or may not be implemented. It is up to the State Election Commission to take cognizance of it or not," Roy said. He also said that the BJP and Congress are causing a "ruckus" because they are unable to field candidates.
West Bengal has a total of 3,317 gram panchayats and 58,594 village panchayat election centres. There are 63,283 panchayat seats in total.
The village council elections will be held on a single day, with the deadline for filing nominations set for June 15. The votes will be counted on July 11.