Kolkata, Dec 15 : In a huge setback for the BJP, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) election, slated to be held on December 19.
A division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice R.
Bharadwaj denied the BJP’s request even as it directed the State Election Commission and the West Bengal government to take measures for holding polls in other civic bodies at the earliest with the least possible number of phases.
The State Election Commission and the Trinamool Congress government had earlier informed the high court that polls to 111 municipal bodies will be conducted in 6-8 phases by May 2022.
However, they said the dates would be fixed later, taking into consideration the Covid-19 situation and school board examinations.
Claiming that the SEC and the state government had announced the schedule for the KMC elections during the pendency of its petition, the BJP had prayed for a stay on the polls for the city’s civic body.
The BJP and another petitioner had moved the high court seeking direction to the SEC and the state government to hold elections to all the municipalities and municipal corporations where it is due together and as soon as possible.The next date for hearing is scheduled on December 23 where the court asked the state poll panel and the government to provide a tentative plan for holding the civic polls in the other municipalities and corporations of the state.
The West Bengal BJP presented their electoral manifesto for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation election last week, emphasising corruption-free civic services, health, education, and women’s and children’s protection.sbg/vd
Calcutta High Court refused to stay KMC elections
The BJP claimed that both the SEC (and the state government) had published the KMC election schedules during its petition.
They had prayed to the BJP for a stay of the elections for their civic body.The BJP, along with another petitioner, had approached the highest court to direct the SEC to organize elections in all municipalities and municipal corporation where they are due and to do so as quickly as possible.
Next hearing will be held on December 23, when the court requested the state panel for polling and the government for a preliminary plan to hold civic polls in other cities and corporations.
Last week the West Bengal BJP released their manifesto to support election of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
It highlighted corruption-free civic services and education as well as women and children’s safety.
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