West Bengal government suspends all college union elections for six months

Kolkata: In the wake of the violence over college elections at Garden Reach in which one policeman was shot dead, West Bengal government yesterday announced state-wide suspension of college union elections for six months in view of various board examinations, and the upcoming panchayat elections.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said this was necessary as different board examinations were lined up for the next two to three months, starting from Madrasa examination and panchayat elections in the state.

It would be difficult for the government to deploy security forces to cover all events, she said.

Announcing the decision earlier, state Education Minister Bratya Basu said the season of examinations would start with the Madrasa test followed by ICSC, ISC, CBSE and West Bengal Board Examination, besides various competitive entrance examinations.

"Thus, it would be difficult for the government to arrange for adequate security for examinations and college union elections simultaneously for want of adequate force," Mr Basu said.

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The entire process of college elections would remain suspended for the next six months till further order, even if it had begun in some institutions, the minister said.

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