Govt recommends State EC to conduct Panchayat poll from May 11

Kolkata, Apr 7 (UNI) The West Bengal government today recommended the State Election Commission to conduct Panchayat polls in three phases beginning May 11.

After a high-level meeting to oversee the poll preparations at the Writers' Buildings, Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said the dates recommended for the three-tier polls are May 11, 14 and 18.

He said the Commission would make the formal announcement in this regard tomorrow.

He said today's meeting, chaired by the Chief Secretary and attended by the DMs and SPs, reviewed the overall situation before the polls.

'' The Chief Secretary has directed the DMs and SPs to take adequate measures to ensure a free and fair poll,'' Mr Chakraborty observed.

To a query on the deployment of central forces during the polls, he said, '' We have sought central forces for the election, but are not sure about the number as Karnataka Assembly election will also be held in May and some other states will also have their local bodies' election.'' He said security arrangements would be tightened in and around all the sensitive booths across the state.

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