Amid allegations by opposition parties of candidates being attacked during nomination filing for the three-phase panchayat elections in West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress on Saturday alleged that they were ‘in league’ with the State Election Commission.
“It is my firm conviction that opposition parties are in league with the state election commission in making such baseless allegations aimed at disrupting the democratic process,” Trinamool Congress General Secretary Mukul Roy told a press conference in Kolkata.
“The commission is supporting opposition parties, who are misguiding the people in making allegations against the ruling party, but this will not help. Opposition parties will be defeated in the panchayat polls,” Mr. Roy said.
“We would like the opposition parties to furnish specific cases of obstruction of their candidates at nomination filing centres to prove their charges considering that the first phase of polling (on July 2) is slated in 40,000 seats,” he said.
Targeting State Election Commissioner Mira Pandey, the Trinamool Congress leader said, “We have already noted how her term was extended in a politically motivated manner.”
Mr. Roy, who had earlier accused the SEC of being ‘partial’ said, “The way of functioning of the state poll panel is dangerous for democratic institutions.”
Claiming that his party was committed to strengthening democracy and democratic institutions, he said, “Not a single election in the state after 2011 (when the TMC came to power) has been rigged or there has been electoral malpractice.”
He claimed that nominations were being filed “smoothly and peacefully.”
