BJP again moves SC for extension of WB nomination ?deadlines

The West Bengal BJP on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court again, contending that the state Election Commission withdrew its extension of deadline by a day for filing nomination papers for panchayat polls on instruction from the state government.

Advocate Aishwarya Bhati mentioned the application before a three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra seeking urgent hearing.

The court put the matter for consideration before a bench of justices R K Agrawal and Abhay Manohar Sapre on Wednesday.

The Opposition party sought direction to the state Election Commission to extend the date for submission of all nomination papers for the polls scheduled in early May.

In view of several complaints on candidates having been obstructed to file their papers, the commission on Monday relied on the apex court's judgement and extended the deadline for submitting nominations till 3 pm on April 10.

On a plea by the state BJP, the court had on April 9 asked it to move the commission with their complaints.

However, at around 11 am on Tuesday, the Election Commission passed a fresh order thereby recalling and rescinding the previous order of Monday, it said.