Calcutta, March 25: The cabinet today deferred a decision on a rule making panchayat approval mandatory for initiating development projects or acquiring land.

Some ministers felt the rule would make it look like the Left Front was following in the footsteps of Rajiv Gandhi, who had introduced decentralisation of the administration at the panchayat level in the late 1980s.

Following the objections, chief minister was quoted as saying: “We should discuss the matter threadbare before arriving at a decision.” Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee reportedly said framing the rule less than two months before the panchayat polls would provide a handle to the Opposition.

Panchayat minister Surjya Kanta Mishra wanted the rule without delay.

Rajya Sabha polls

Mamata Banerjee’s new partner SUCI will abstain from the Rajya Sabha polls tomorrow, making the defeat of her candidate more humiliating. The CPM and the Congress have ensured the victory of Independent candidate A.S. Malihabadi.