Uncertainty looms large over the recently held municipal polls in West Bengal as State Election Commissioner Sushanta Ranjan Upadhyay on Tuesday tendered his resignation to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.
The resignation comes at a time when the Opposition is demanding cancellation of elections to Bidhannagar and Asansol Municipal Corporation and certain other areas held on October 3. The counting of votes to these civic bodies is also due.
New State Transport Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay is tipped to be the next Election Commissioner of Bengal.
On Monday, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership publicly threatened the State Election Commissioner to announce the dates for counting of votes.
A TMC delegation led by State Ministers spent hours in Mr. Upadhyay’s office allegedly demanding that the dates be declared.
The Governor told the media: “He [Mr. Upadhyay] has tendered his resignation. I have sent it for the comments and views of the State government. I am yet to receive any response.”
Mr. Upadhyay had given certain hints on Monday that fresh polls in certain booths would be held on October 8 and counting on October 9.
On Tuesday, the State Election Commissioner did not turn up at his office where officials and journalists eagerly waited for him. Instead, he went to Raj Bhavan and submitted his resignation. In the present circumstances, the Commission’s order that the counting of votes is being suspended for an indefinite period stands.
Opposition parties alleged that Mr. Upadhyay quit because of the pressure from the ruling party. His predecessor Mira Pande also did not have a smooth tenure. She had taken the Trinamool Congress to court demanding central forces for panchayat polls.
