Supreme Court rules out re-election in uncontested panchayat seats won by TMC in West Bengal
New Delhi, Aug 24 (IBNS): In a big relief for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled out any re-election in 34 percent of panchayat seats, which were won by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) uncontested, in the eastern state, media reports said.
The Opposition had moved the top court alleging that the TMC resorted to violence to hinder the rival candidates from filing nominations.
The seats were won uncontested by the TMC in May but the apex court had asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to put a hold on the declaration of results till the verdict of the case passed.
The Supreme Court on Friday said the SEC can now declare the results.
In another part of its judgement, the top court said nominations via email are not acceptable.
Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had asked the Opposition parties to send e-nominations after the rival outfits accused the TMC of poll violence.
However the opposition candidates, who feel they were not allowed to file their nominations, can move the Supreme Court tribunal within 30 days since the declaration of the results.
The panchayat polls were swept by Mamata-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as a distant second.
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