SC Order on West Bengal Local Body Polls

Why in news?

Supreme Court ordered to hold online filing of nominations by candidates for local body polls in West Bengal.

What are the concerns with West Bengal local body elections?

• The state was a pioneer in local self-government, yet, over decades, the legitimacy of the polls to panchayats has been undermined by the spectre of violence and intimidation by the ruling parties.
• This year, over 34 per cent of the seats had only ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidates standing unopposed.
• There were murders in the run-up to the polls given the fact that the opposition has retreated from the public space.
• About 1000 candidates from opposition parties were prevented from filing their nomination.
• Due to this state opposition parties moved court against the alleged excesses of the state government.

What is SC decision about?

• Recently Kolkata High Court ordered that nominations for local body elections can be accepted via email.
• On this regard SC ordered to hold on email nominations and asked the State Election Commission (SEC) not to declare the results for the seats where the TMC was unopposed.
• On the one hand, the apex court has recognised that elections to local bodies are a state subject and, constitutionally, their free and fair conduct falls under the ambit of the SEC.

What is the significance of the recent decision?

• SC considered allowing e-nominations would cause “irreparable loss and injury”, implying as it does a failure of the SEC and state government’s machinery to prevent the intimidation of opposition candidates.
• SC also stated that the local elections seem to have become a display of muscle power and subversion by the ruling party.
• The SC order is both a warning and an opportunity for the state government and the SEC.
• These elections will be clearly watched, and the administration must not allow subversion of the democratic process.
• The Court has placed its trust on the SEC to ensure a peaceful transition of office for representatives closest to the people.

Source: Indian Express