West Bengal panchayat polls results to be out today

Amid apprehensions of violence during announcement of results of the Panchayat elections in West Bengal, the State Election Commission (SEC) is all set to declare the results on July 29. Given the huge number of polling booths, the process could spill over to July 30, informed sources in SEC said.

The election, which took place in five phases between July 11 and 25, also witnessed widespread bloodshed, claiming the lives of 26 people across the state. While the SEC has taken necessary measures to ensure none of its personnel fall victim to clashes between political parties, the commission has also urged the Union government to deploy Central security forces across the state as a precautionary measure to prevent violence.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has agreed to keep around 45 of the 60 companies of the forces sent during the Bengal polls. The Centre will also keep the forces for a few more days after the results are declared. Meanwhile, political observers believe that the ruling Trinamool Congress is likely to sweep most of the seats, with the Left coming in the second, followed by the Congress.