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National News
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| Calcutta HC directs EC to reschedule dates of West Bengal panchayat elections | | | | West Bengal Apr 20,
The Calcutta High Court today quashed the State Election Commission's order cancelling the notification for extension of deadline for filing nomination for panchayat polls in West Bengal. The court directed the commission to reschedule the dates for panchayat election process and accordingly conduct the polls.
Justice Subrata Talukdar held that that petitions, filed by the BJP, CPI(M) and other opposition parties, challenging the cancellation of notification are maintainable and asked the poll panel to issue fresh notification extending the date for filing nominations.
The panchayat elections in West Bengal were to be held in three phases from May 1 to May 5 and the counting of votes was scheduled on May 8.
The nomination process for the panchayat polls ended on April 9, but it was extended by a day by the SEC the same evening following a Supreme Court court order on petitions alleging that candidates backed by opposition parties were being prevented from filing nominations .
The notification, which referred to the apex court order, was withdrawn by the SEC on April 10 morning. | | | | |
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