: Supreme Court refuses to entertain WB BJP plea for deployment of central forces for Kolkata civic polls #IndiaNEWS #National New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a plea from the

Supreme Court refuses to entertain WB BJP plea for deployment of central forces for Kolkata civic polls #IndiaNEWS #National
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a plea from the BJP seeking a direction to the West Bengal government, state election panel and other functionaries to prepare a comprehensive action plan and deploy sufficient central police forces to ensure free and fair municipal polls in Kolkata.
A bench comprising justices L Nagesara Rao and B R Gavai asked the state BJP to withdraw the plea and move the Calcutta High Court with its grievances and relief that more central forces be deployed for smooth and fair conducted of the civic polls in the state capital December 19.
Following notification of the civic polls and the BJP finalising its list of candidates for it, the partys nominees have been threatened and pressured, senior advocate Maninder Singh, who is appearing for the West Bengal BJP, said.
He also said that though complaints have been lodged, no FIR has been registered, so far, by the state police. Why 32 (under Article 32 of the Constitution, a petition is filed directly in the Supreme Court),??? the bench asked, adding that a petition should have been filed in the high court, which is more aware about the security and other local aspects.
The problem is if we start taking this on 32, there would be no end, the bench said, leading to withdrawal of the plea by the West Bengal BJP to move the high court.
The apex court, December 7, had agreed to hear the BJPs plea seeking a direction to the West Bengal government and others to prepare a comprehensive action plan and deploy sufficient central police forces to ensure free and fair municipal polls in Kolkata.
The top court November 25 had directed the Union home ministry to provide two additional companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to secure polling booths during the Tripura municipal polls after opposition TMC and CPI (M) alleged that their candidates and supporters were not being allowed to cast their votes.
The BJP, in its plea filed by its state president and MP Sukanta Majumdar, has sought a direction to the state functionaries (West Bengal) to produce a comprehensive action plan and deploy sufficient central police forces to ensure that free and fair municipal elections are held in Kolkata.
The plea, filed through lawyers Aditya Sharma and Nachiketa Joshi, said that the BJP finalised its candidates after the West Bengal State Election Commission notified the elections to be held for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
That pursuant to finalisation of the candidates by the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), various candidates have received threats and are being pressured to withdraw their candidature. Some of the candidates have reported that members of their family are being threatened,??? it said.

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