KOLKATA: The West Bengal Election Commission on Saturday deferred civic polls in four municipal corporations by three weeks in the wake of the surge in Covid-19 cases. The elections will be held on February 15, instead of January 22.
The decision was taken a day after the Kolkata High Court asked the panel to consider postponing the civic polls. The commission issued the notification postponing the civic polls shortly after the state government informed the court that it had no objection if the electoral exercise is deferred.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson and MP Saugata Roy welcomed the decision. ‘’The court asked the commission to consider postponing of the civic polls and the decision was taken in the interest for the sake of common people’s interest,’’ he said.
The court was hearing a PIL seeking postponement of the municipal elections in Bidhannagar, Chandernagore, Asansol and Siliguri civic bodies. The BJP said the election commission had to accept their demand for postponement. “With the surge in cases, we demanded it but TMC did not pay heed. After the court directed to consider the election schedule, the state poll panel had no option left,” said the party’s senior leader Dilip Ghosh.