The State Election Commission held an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the ensuing polls to 108 civic bodies to be held on February 27.

The commission will issue the notification for the polls on Thursday, following which nominations can be filed. Sourav Das, the state election commissioner, chaired the meeting attended by representatives of 10 political parties that are recognised by the poll panel. MLAs Tapas Roy and Debasish Kumar represented the Trinamul Congress, while Rabin Deb and Palash Das were present on behalf of the CPM. Sisir Bajoria and MLA Agnimitra Paul represented the BJP, while Asit Mitra and Ashutosh Chatterjee of the Congress took part in the meeting.

Opposition parties raised several issues with the SEC, ranging from counting of votes to the appointment of polling agents. The Opposition parties asked the commission to count votes to the 108 civic bodies and the four municipal corporations, which will go to polls on February 12, together. However, sources in the poll panel said it was unlikely that the demand would be accepted.

The Opposition parties also argued that the period of campaign should be extended by two hours — from 8pm to 10pm. However, the Trinamul representatives wanted the extension to be increased till 9pm. “In municipal polls, campaigns generally start in the evening. It will be difficult to finish by 8pm. So, we have urged the commissioner to increase it by two hours,” CPM’s Deb said.

The Opposition parties also demanded that the silence period be cut down from 72 hours to 48 hours. Previously, the campaigns would stop 48 hours before the day of the poll but in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was extended by another day.

According to the SEC’s guidelines, a voter can be appointed as a booth agent by political parties at his/her booth only. The Opposition asked the commission to change the rule and allow any voter from a particular ward to be deployed as a booth agent.

The BJP requested the commission to postpone the February 27 polls in the wake of the pandemic. Emerging from the meeting, Deb said: “We are doubtful about how much of what we said would be heard. Nine parties spoke in the same voice, but the commission only listens to the ruling party,” Deb said.