West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today welcomed the announcement of the panchayat poll date as she hoped for a peaceful election.
The State Election Commission today announced that the panchayat election will be held in a single phase on May 14, instead of the three-phase polling, scheduled for May 1, 3 and 5 earlier.
"We are happy that the poll date has been announced at last. People want election in a democracy. We are also happy that the poll is being held before the Ramazan begins," Banerjee said.
"We are proud of our panchayats. Many good works have been done in the interest of people of rural Bengal. We want a peaceful election for the welfare of all," she said.
The chief minister also cautioned people against malicious campaign by a political party using photographs of violent incidents of Bangladesh in their election manifesto in the state, besides misusing photograph of an industrialist to spread canards against the ruling party.
"This should be stopped. There should not be any malicious campaign or canards against any political party," she said.
Asking the people to be at guard against any attempt to foment trouble with the help of outsiders, the chief minister said border vigil has been intensified.
The election should be held peacefully in a democratic environment environment, she added.
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