Kolkata: There was no sign of a thaw yesterday in the stand-off between the Mamata Banerjee regime and the West Bengal state election commission, putting a big question mark on the village council polls schedule announced by the government.
The ruling party sharpened its attack on the commission while the opposition accused the government of attempts to create a constitutional crisis so that the polls were not held on time.
State Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee, who called on Governor M K Narayanan and Chief Minister Banerjee during the day, admitted that it was difficult to hold the maiden phase of the elections on April 26 as scheduled.
“We will take a final decision on Monday,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Mukherjee said a fresh notification on the rural polls would be issued soon.
“We find it very difficult to consider and agree to suggestions given by the commission,” he said, responding to the latest missive from the panel on Thursday stressing the need for deployment of central paramilitary troopers.
The state election commission has sought 800 companies of central paramilitary troopers, a suggestion that has not found favour with the Banerjee government.
However, Mukehrjee seemed to have softened his tone on the issue, saying there was no guarantee that the state would get 800 companies of paramilitary forces if it asked for them.
Meanwhile, Trinamool general secretary Mukul Roy alleged that letters penned by the panel were being drafted at the office of a rival political party.
IANS
