The Statesman 29.04.2013
Municipal polls on backburner
KOLKATA, 29 APRIL: The state government
will take a decision regarding holding elections of 13 municipalities
only after the stalemate on panchayat elections is resolved. The state
municipal affairs secretary, Mr B P Gopalika today held a meeting with
officials of the State Election Commission (SEC) over delimitation and
reservation of seats. The state government has said the task of
reservation of seats can be completed only around mid-week of July.
Meanwhile, the state government seems to be ready for confrontation with
the commission over dates of municipal polls. “The state government had
wanted to hold municipal polls along with panchayat polls. It will take
a decision on municipal polls only after the impasse over panchayat
polls is resolved,” said a senior minister of the Cabinet. The SEC has
already moved court over holding panchayat polls after there was a
deadlock and the commission accused the government of not holding
“effective consultation” before unilaterally declaring the dates of
panchayat polls. The matter is still pending before the Calcutta High
Court.
