A day before the formation of panchayat boards starts in Nadia, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the state police to provide security to around 70 Opposition candidates from the district who won in the recently-concluded panchayat election. The directive was passed by a single bench of Justice Jay Sengupta. On Thursday, boards will be formed in three gram panchayats at Ranaghat II block of Nadia district. Apprehending that Opposition candidates might face threats and intimidation from ruling Trinamool Congress ahead of the formation of panchayat boards, a large number of Opposition candidates who won the rural polls moved court, seeking police protection. Hearing the matter, Justice Sengupta directed the state police to provide them adequate security. The candidates are from various parties including the BJP and the CPI (M). The court directed the police to escort such candidates to the panchayat office and help them take part in the board formation. The process of forming panchayat boards will continue in Nadia on Friday and Saturday too. Earlier, Opposition candidates who had won from gram panchayat seats in South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad.
