SEC wants ‘consensus’ deleted,files review plea

However,on the same day,both Pal and state election commissioner Meera Pandey publicly stated that they did not reach any “consensus” with the state government over how the panchayat polls will be conducted — the basic premise of the court’s order.

In the review application,advocate Amrita Pandey,on behalf of the poll panel,said the commission neither gave any consent that could have helped to reach a consensus with the state government over the contentious issues concerning the panchayat elections,nor the Division Bench sought any consent from them.

Pandey,however,said the commission would act according to the High Court order. The application would come up for hearing on June 3 when the court resumes work after the summer vacation.

The review plea may be a precursor to the days ahead. The state election commission has still not agreed to the government’s latest notification and is not in sync with the latter’s clubbing of districts for the three-phase poll.

Sources in the commission said it has not ruled out moving the Supreme Court. “All options are kept open,” said a senior commission official when asked if they could move the highest court of the country if they fail to arrive at a consensus with the state government on several issues concerning the holding of the panchayat elections.