Bengal Panchayat election suit: Calcutta High Court orders to extend nomination deadline, reschedule election dates

It directed that all candidates, who could not file nominations before the given time, could file nominations and take part in the polls.

Bench of Justice Subrata Talukder also directed the election commission to announce fresh dates to conduct panchayat election in the state.

The verdict was given after the bench heard petitions of the opposition parties which had accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of resorting to violence to hinder the filing of nominations by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Left and Congress.

Earlier the opposition parties moved Supreme Court after the State Election Commission (SEC), in the wake of reports of pre-poll panchayat violence, extended the nomination filing deadline to only rescind it within hours.

However, the top court transferred the case to the Calcutta High Court.

Ever since the poll dates have been announced by the SEC, the eastern state has witnessed widespread violence primarily by the TMC and emerging principal opposition BJP.

The poll will take place in three phases on May 1, 3 and 5.

The results of the poll will be declared on May 8.

Panchayat poll in the state is significant as it is considered to be crucial for the General Elections, which will be held next in 2019.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)