WB municipal election: Opposition-free re-polls concluded in Bidhannagar, Asansol

After election was concluded, interim state election commissioner Alapon Banerjee said in a press conference here, "Today, we have successfully conducted re-poll in two booths in Asansol and nine booths in Bidhannagar. Police had arranged tight security arrangements there. I have not received any report of unpleasant situation or violence so far."

However, 30.6% and 70.49% polls were recorded in Bidhannagar and Asansol respectively.

Meanwhile, calling the whole municipal election process a 'farce', united opposition of the Left Front, the Congress and the BJP in West Bengal had decided to boycott Friday's re-polling .

Very few voters were seen at the polling stations in Salt Lake and polling-agents of opposition parties were also absent inside the booths.

Meanwhile, challenging the appointment of Alapon Banerjee as the state election commissioner, one resident of Salt Lake filed a writ petition before the bench of justice Dipankar Dutta in the Calcutta High Court on Thursday.

After a long hearing of seven and half hours on Friday, justice Dipankar Dutta directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit on the steps regarding appointment of interim state election commissioner Alapon Banerjee and asked the petitioner to file a counter affidavit by Nov 17.

The next date of hearing has been set on Nov 23.

Amid violence, West Bengal witnessed civic polls in Bidhannagar, Howrah and Asansol municipal corporations on Oct 3.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)