Ready-in-May reply to delay charge Vindicated, says Mira

Calcutta, June 29: State election commissioner Mira Pande today said the poll panel had been prepared to hold the panchayat elections in April or May this year, making it clear it would not take the blame for the delay. “We were ready to conduct the elections in April or May,” Pande told a news conference. Asked whether the commission felt vindicated by yesterday’s apex court order that accepted most of its key demands, she said: “To an extent, yes. We had taken a stand — what we believed in — and it was upheld by the apex court.” The court has rescheduled the polls to five phases, to be conducted in the presence of central forces between July 11 and 25. The date of counting, not fixed by the court, is yet to be decided but Pande indicated it would be July 28 or 29. The ruling Trinamul is concerned that the new dates fall in the month of Ramazan and has said the Supreme Court could be approached to reschedule the polls before or after the Muslim holy month. “The Supreme Court verdict is very clear and we are all bound to abide by it,” Pande said. “The point about Ramadan was raised in court yesterday. The apex court did not give any direction in this regard. We have to go by the order.” Asked if it was possible to conduct the polls during Ramazan as a sizeable number of voters, candidates and polling personnel are Muslim and would be fasting, Pande pointed out that offices stay open during the holy month. “The process has not coincided with a particular festival day. Offices remain open during Ramazan,” she said. Pande today conducted a string of meetings with her own officials and co-ordinated with district administrations on the matter of poll preparedness. She is scheduled to hold an all-party meeting on Tuesday. Asked whether she was scared or concerned at the death threats reaching her office, Pande said: “No. Very clear answer.” The state home department has launched a probe into the threat messages. “I have not asked for anything to be done about it. I have not sought extra security cover,” Pande said. However, under instructions from state home secretary Basudeb Banerjee, the special branch of Calcutta police has been asked to draw up a security plan for Pande.