High Court asks poll panel to take a call on civic polls within 48 hours

Meeting tomorrow on Jan 22 polls decision.

The Calcutta High Court on Friday asked the West Bengal Election Commission to take a call regarding postponement of the civic body polls for four to six weeks in view of the rising Covid-19 cases in the state. The commission was given 48 hours to clear its stand on the matter. Civic polls in four municipal bodies are scheduled on January 22. The commission has called a meeting on the matter tomorrow.

The court was hearing the matter on whether municipal polls should be held in the prevailing pandemic situation. Covid-19 cases have been on the rise in the state over the past few weeks. Municipal polls are due in seven municipal corporations of Bengal, including Asansol Municipal Corporation, Bidhan Nagar Municipal Corporation, Chandernagore Municipal Corporation, Durgapur Municipal Corporation, Howrah Municipal Corporation and Siliguri Municipal Corporation. The state’s poll panel had announced elections in four municipalities – Asansol, Bidhannagar, Siliguri and Chandannagar – on January 22 and counting on January 25.

However, with Covid-19 cases rising, a PIL was filed, arguing that the civic polls should be postponed due to the pandemic situation.

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