Bengal Panchayat Polls: Clash Breaks Out During Nomination Filing, BJP Says 'Mamata's Jungle Raj'

WB Panchayat Elections 2023 Live Updates: Follow ABP Live for the latest updates happening from West Bengal ahead of Panchayat Elections.

Background

WB Panchayat Elections 2023 Live Updates: Hello and welcome to ABP Live to get all the LIVE updates from the ground on the upcoming West Bengal Panchayat Polls 2023. The Calcutta High Court issued a directive on Tuesday, June 13, mandating the requisition and deployment of central forces for the upcoming West Bengal panchayat elections slated to take place on July 8, 2023. Additionally, the court refused to entertain a plea for an extension of the nomination filing deadline, leaving the decision on the matter to the State Election Commission (SEC).

The division bench, headed by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, instructed the SEC to coordinate with the police force of West Bengal, ensuring the smooth collaboration of central forces during the rural polls. The high court emphasized that the request for an extension of the nomination filing deadline, which currently stands at June 15, would not be entertained.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is gearing up to compete in the upcoming panchayat polls in West Bengal amidst a flurry of corruption allegations, with political analysts viewing these elections as a preliminary test for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While the TMC leadership recognizes that the dynamics of the Lok Sabha and village council elections may differ, they consider winning the rural heartland of Bengal as "crucial" for securing a maximum number of parliamentary seats and exerting influence in national politics next year.

Scheduled to take place on July 8, 2023, the state's three-tier panchayat elections will encompass a significant electorate of approximately 5.67 crores. Voters will exercise their franchise to select representatives for nearly 74,000 seats in Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and Gram Panchayats.

During the previous rural polls held five years ago, the TMC secured 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and won all 22 Zilla Parishads. However, these elections were marred by widespread violence and malpractices, prompting allegations from the opposition that they were hindered from filing nominations in various constituencies across the state.

19:06 PM (IST)  •  14 Jun 2023

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18:04 PM (IST)  •  14 Jun 2023

Bengal Panchayat Polls: Clash Breaks Out During Nomination Filing, BJP Says 'Mamata's Jungle Raj'

The mob also attacked police personnel as well who received minor injuries and were undergoing treatment, Read More

11:46 AM (IST)  •  14 Jun 2023

Bengal Panchayat Polls: Clash Erupts Between 2 TMC Groups In Canning Over Nomination Filing — WATCH

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