The leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before Calcutta High Court, demanding an order asking the state election commission to deploy adequate central force personnel to ensure a violence-free panchayat election in Bengal.

The BJP Nandigram MLA also sought an order appointing a retired judge of the court to monitor the upcoming panchayat elections in Bengal, scheduled for early 2023.

The matter will come up for hearing before the division bench headed by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava later this week.

In his petition, Adhikari mentioned that in the last panchayat elections in 2018, the state witnessed major violence, including the loss of lives.

Therefore, the court should order holding polls in the presence of central force, the BJP leader petitioned.

Adhikari also mentioned that in 2013, the then state election commissner Meera Pandey had decided to deploy central force during panchayat polls.

The decision had been challenged by the state government in court. However, the decision of the state election commission had prevailed.

State appeal

The state authorities moved an appeal against the order passed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha who restrained the government from lodging any FIR against leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari without prior permission from the court.

The court has also stayed proceedings in 44 criminal cases lodged against the BJP leader.

The state’s appeal will also be heard by the division bench headed by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava later this week.