We would request that if there is a re-poll, it should be done under the supervision of the court (Supreme Court), says Rabin Deb
After the violent three-tier Panchayat election in West Bengal, all eyes are now on the Supreme Court which is set to declare its verdict on July 3 regarding the 34 per cent seats where the ruling dispensation had won uncontested. The announcement of winning candidates, however, is not supposed to be made till the verdict is passed.
Ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders apprehend there is a possibility that the Apex court would rule for a fresh round of polls for the 20,000-plus seats giving rise to a fresh set of complication.
State rural development minister Subrata Mukherjee admitted that there was a level of discomfort among party leaders till the verdict of the Apex court was out. "Till then, we don't have other option but to wait for the court order," he said.
Another senior TMC leader said there will be other complications if there was a re-poll at those seats. "Candidates who have been declared uncontested winners have been given certificates. Those will have to be revoked. Again there will is a greater chance of poll sabotage by dissident members of our own party," he said.
Leaders of opposition parties apprehended that there would be a re-run of another bloodbath if there is a re-election in the state. Senior CPI(M) leaders Rabin Deb said, "We would request that if there is a re-poll, it should be done under the supervision of the court because the places where there had been a walkover in favour of the TMC are places where the TMC has used muscle power to suppress the Opposition," Deb said.
He also said that nominations should be accepted online to avoid any trouble and bloodshed.
Lawyer for Congress Ritju Ghoshal said that even if there was a re-election it would be nothing but a farce.
State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said that if there was a re-election the party was ready to prove that it will not cow down to the pressure tactics of the TMC.
The Supreme Court, in an interim order had directed the State Election Commission (SEC) on May 10 not to declare the names of the TMC candidates in 20,067 seat – or 34.2 per cent of the total seats – who have won uncontested as candidates of the Opposition could not allegedly file their nomination.
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