Kolkata: West Bengal Election Commissioner Mira Pandey will move the court again on Monday over the state government's proposal to use security forces in booths and polling stations. The state Election Commission issued notification for the three-tier panchayat election in the state on May 27, which set in motion the poll process from May 29.
The district magistrates are getting ready to conduct the polls on the basis of the schedule for the poll to be held on July 2, 6 and 9, according to Pandey. The poll panel has held a series of meetings with law enforcing authorities and political parties in the past few days.
Pandey had also discussed requirement of security forces and arrangement for the polls as per its discussion with the state government, with Governor MK Narayanan. "However, we are yet to receive any reply regarding the deployment pattern of security forces or security arrangements during nomination process," she said.
The SEC had earlier agreed to the formula proposed by the state government for district-wise holding of the rural election in three phases.
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court had on May 14 rejected the SEC order for 800 companies of central forces to conduct the panchayat polls and directed that the election be held in three phases and the process be completed by July 15.
Meanwhile, the state government has ordered an inquiry into the receipt of three threatening letters by Pandey.
Though SEC sources maintained that the letters were threatening in nature "presumably for her stand on the holding of panchayat elections", Pandey chose not to make any comment on the issue.
(With additional information from PTI)
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