Setback for BJP as Calcutta HC quashes plea seeking deployment of central forces for Kolkata municipal polls – Times Now

Kolkata, West Bengal: In a major setback for the Bharatiya Janata Paty (BJP) in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed its plea seeking the deployment of Central Forces for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections.

The Calcutta HC has said that the civic polls, slated to be held on December 19, will be conducted under the responsibility of the State Police.

This comes after the Supreme Court had on Monday refused a similar plea by the BJP by asking the party to approach the Calcutta HC for such a relief.

“We cannot take decisions with respect to the requirement of Central force. High Court will be in a better position to know the situation”, the bench comprising Justices L Nagesara Rao and BR Gavai of the Supreme Court had told Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, who was appearing for the BJP.

Earlier on Wednesday, the High Court had fused to stay the KMC polls and directed State Election Commission (SEC) and the state government to inform the court on a tentative plan for holding these elections on the next date of hearing on December 23.

According to IANS, a division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice R Bharadwaj also directed the SEC and the West Bengal government to take measures for holding polls in other civic bodies at the earliest with the least possible number of phases.

The State Election Commission and the West Bengal government had earlier informed the High Court that polls to 111 municipal bodies will be conducted in 6-8 phases by May 2022.