The BJP on Thursday urged the Election Commission (EC) to remove "political appointees" from various boards of administrators in civic bodies appointed by the West Bengal government, saying it appointed the same representatives who had completed their term of five years in blatant violation of constitutional and legal provisions.
A BJP delegation, including Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, two party general secretaries Bhupender Yadav and Kailash Vijayvargiya, Om Pathak and Sanjay Mayukh, submitted a representation to the poll watchdog, asking it to take necessary steps for ensuring free, fair and transparent assembly elections in the state.
Noting that there are 135 municipal bodies in the state out of which 125 have completed their term of five years back in April-May 2020, the BJP accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of "influencing" the state election commission to postpone their elections.
"Thereafter, the TMC-led government in utter disregard to the mandate of the Act and the Constitution of India and by colourable exercise of power, appointed ex-Mayors and elected representatives belonging to TMC and their workers as administrators in most of the municipalities," it alleged.
Since the tenure of former elected representatives has expired, they cannot be conferred powers to manage affairs of the municipality under any pretense, the BJP delegation told the EC and cited a Supreme Court ruling to back its demand.
"The commission is requested, in exercise of powers vested in it under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, to eject the political appointees from the various boards of administrators appointed by the State Government of West Bengal and take other necessary steps for ensuring free, fair and transparent elections," it demanded.
Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 2.
Former Sikkim Minister's Body Found In West Bengal Canal "God-Sent For Me": Bengal Governor On Court's Order On Mamata Banerjee Farmers Prep For March To Delhi After Haryana Told To Remove Roadblocks Puja Khedkar's Disability Document Has Factory Address, Ration Card Proof 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare "Back To Square One": Arvind Kejriwal's Lawyer Seeks Bail, Slams CBI Arrest Video: Elderly Man In Dhoti Denied Entry To Bengaluru's GT Mall 10 Years On, 298 Victims Of MH17 Disaster Still Await Justice JoSAA Counselling 2024: All You Need To Know About NIT+System Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.