Supreme Court dismisses TMC plea on Bengal counting staff, BJP hails order
Synopsis
The Supreme Court's refusal to halt the ECI's appointment of central government employees as counting staff in West Bengal is a significant pre-counting setback for the Trinamool Congress — and BJP is wasting no time capitalising on it ahead of the 4 May count.
The Supreme Court of India on Saturday, 2 May refused to interfere with the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to appoint Central government and Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees as counting supervisors and assistants in West Bengal, effectively disposing of a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) that had challenged a Calcutta High Court order on the matter. The apex court, however, directed that the ECI's own circular — which provides for state government nominees in counting parties — must be followed
