Accept WhatsApped nominations: HC to SEC

In a precedent-setting order, that can in future open a new vista for filing online nomination the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the State Election Commission to accept nominations WhatsApped by 11 candidates on Monday.

These aspiring candidates from Bhangar in South 24 Paganas failed to file their nominations in the face of rampant violence by armed Trinamool Congress cadres.

Armed to teeth and backed by the State police the Trinamool goons had on Monday held the entire State on hostage disallowing the opposition parties to utilise the one-day window provided earlier by the Court which extended the deadline for filing nomination for Panchayat polls.

The Court directed the SEC to accept the nominations filed by the 11 candidates from Bhangar in eastern suburbs of Kolkata sent through WhatsApp. The Court told the poll panel to accept the nominations or deal with yet another extension of deadline.

Acting on a petition filed by the BJP and the CPI(M) the Bench of Justice S Taluqdar had earlier directed the SEC to extend deadline for nomination by a day.

Sharmistha Chowdhury the petitioner said, “We brought it to the notice of the Court that despite its previous order asking the SEC to extend the nomination submission date, potential contestants from Polerhatt-II were still being prevented from reaching the designated Government offices. As it found substance in the complaint it instructed the Commission to accept the Whatsapped nominations filed by 11 candidates.”

Hailing the Tuesday’s development BJP State president Dilip Ghosh said “we welcome the order. We had earlier requested the Commission to take e-mailed nomination which was rejected. We are ready to file such nominations from our side.”

According to BJP sources the saffron outfit was planning to take scores of its workers and candidates attacked and injured by the Trinamool goons to New Delhi to draw the attention of the President of India on what was happening in Bengal.

“Law and order in the State has completely broken down. The Government cannot even hold a Panchayat election. In fact the Government is working hand-in-glove with the police and criminals to kill democracy.

There is no way but to take the injured to Delhi and draw the attention of the President and the entire nation,” a saffron leader said.