| 18 June 2023
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its intention to file a contempt of court case against the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) before the Calcutta High Court. The party claims that the SEC failed to comply with the court's direction to requisition and deploy central forces across West Bengal for the upcoming Panchayat elections within 48 hours.
Subhendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal state assembly and the petitioner of the case, confirmed the party's decision during a media interaction. Adhikari stated, "Tomorrow I will file a fresh petition of contempt of court before the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, who gave the order."
The controversy stems from an order issued by the division bench, presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, on Thursday. The court directed the SEC to follow the requisition orders for all districts that had experienced violence during the nomination filing process for the Panchayat elections scheduled for July 8.
However, on Saturday, the West Bengal government and the SEC jointly moved the Supreme Court to challenge the deployment of central forces during the upcoming polls, as ordered by the High Court. This move by the state government and the SEC has further escalated tensions and legal complexities surrounding the issue.
The deployment of central forces has become a contentious matter in West Bengal due to the history of violence and political clashes during elections in the state. The BJP, along with other opposition parties, has raised concerns over the state government's ability to provide a secure and fair electoral environment. They argue that the involvement of central forces is necessary to maintain law and order and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The High Court's directive was seen as a significant step toward addressing these concerns and ensuring a peaceful conduct of the Panchayat elections. However, the alleged non-compliance by the SEC has compelled the BJP to seek legal recourse and file a contempt of court case.
The developments in this case are being closely watched by political observers, as they have far-reaching implications for the upcoming Panchayat elections in West Bengal. The decision of the Calcutta High Court regarding the contempt of court case and the subsequent legal proceedings will have a substantial impact on the electoral landscape and the perception of the state government's commitment to upholding the rule of law.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the judiciary will respond to the BJP's contempt of court case, and how it will affect the overall electoral process and political dynamics in West Bengal.
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