West Bengal announces panchayat elections 2023, political parties gear up for campaigns

Panchayat Election 2023 has been announced in West Bengal on Thursday Nominations for the elections began on Friday, accompanied by wall writing campaigns by various political parties. However, the state Congress, BJP, and CPM have approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking the deployment of central forces during the elections. A petition has been filed, requesting the court's intervention in the matter.

According to sources, the Congress on Friday referred the matter to Chief Justice TS Shivagnam. Earlier, opposition leader Shubhendu Adhikari had also filed a case on the same issue. Opposition parties are demanding the deployment of central forces instead of state police in panchayat elections.

The Congress party referred the matter to Chief Justice TS Shivagnam on Friday, following opposition leader Shubhendu Adhikari's earlier case on the same issue. The opposition parties are demanding the deployment of central forces instead of the state police for ensuring the fairness and security of the panchayat elections.

Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has initiated wall writing activities across various parts of the state. The TMC party symbol is being inscribed on walls without the candidate's name. In Bankura, BJP workers were also observed writing the names of their party candidates on walls, led by Bankura BJP MLA Neeladri Shekhar Dana.

The Block Development Offices (BDO) in North 24 Parganas have commenced preparations for the upcoming panchayat elections. Following the election announcement, the district magistrate of North 24 Parganas called for a meeting with Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and BDOs from the district.

The nomination process started in Bankura district, and candidates have been lining up since the morning at the BDO office of Block 2. They are submitting their nomination forms as the scorching summer heat persists. The police have been deployed to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents during the nomination process.

The nomination process commenced on Friday in all 22 districts of the state, including Bankura. West Bengal has a total of 3,317 gram panchayats, with 63,283 panchayat seats. The panchayat elections have intensified the political atmosphere in the state ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.