Poll delay onus falls on Didi’s shoulders

“From the very beginning,they (Trinamool) have been creating roadblocks in the poll process,” said Left Front chairman and senior CPM leader Biman Bose.

He also accused the government of trying to run panchayats through BDOs and SDOs. “They have created a constitutional crisis. They don’t believe in bestowing power to villagers,” he said,pointing to the end of term of many panchayats.

“The people of Bengal and Muslims will now understand the hoax that Mamata tried to play by citing Ramzan. Had the Trinamool been serious about holding the polls,it would have held it in June,” said another CPM leader Mohd Selim.

BJP state president Rahul Sinha said the intention of the government was doubtful as it wanted to delay the polls till the last minute.

“The government counsel raised the issue of rainy season and flood in the apex court today. It was an effort by the government to avoid polls,” he said.

He also accused Mamata of trying to “fool” the minority community by raising the issue of Ramzan. “The CM is trying to communalise the polls. We are very happy with the SC verdict,” he said.

The Congress also blamed the government for creating the situation that would incovenience the Muslim voters. “What can be done now? The Trinamool is solely responsible for this. From the very beginning,they were dilly-dallying about holding the polls,” said state Congress chief Pradip Bhattacharya.

Sidiqullah Chaudhury,the leader of Muslim outfit,the PDCI,expressed unhappiness over the Supreme Court’s refusal to change the poll schedule,but added they will abide by the order.

He,too,blamed Mamata for delaying the polls. “We feel the polls should have been held after Ramzan. Trinamool dragged the matter till Ramzan,” he said. His party and other outfits had been taking out protest marches in Kolkata demanding revision of poll dates.

With PTI inputs