Congress, BJP move court over WB panchayat polls

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India] April 5 (ANI): The West Bengal units of the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday moved Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court respectively in connection with upcoming panchayat polls in the state.

The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Calcutta High Court seeking its intervention on conducting panchayat polls peacefully, including extension of entire process of election, alternative place for filing nomination and deployment of central forces during panchayat polls.

Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP Secretary has also approached the Supreme Court seeking deployment of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) during upcoming Panchayat elections in the state.

The apex court will hear the matter tomorrow.

The Congress and BJP have moved higher courts after there was widespread violence on the first day of filing nomination papers.

Panchayat polls will be organised in three phases in West Bengal. The polling will be held on May 1, 3 and 5. Counting of votes will take place on May 8. According to the state election commission, over 5.08 crore voters will exercise their franchise across 20 districts of the state. A total of 58,467 polling stations will be set up.

The Last date for filing nomination is April 9; nomination scrutiny on April 11 and April 16 is the deadline for nomination withdrawal. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI