Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the state poll panel to ensure Congress candidates of Burwan block in Murshidabad get to submit party symbols allotted to them at the block office on Thursday.
The state election commission will either arrange for central security cover for the candidates or seek the help of the local superintendent of police, the court said.
On Tuesday, around 200 Congress candidates were manhandled by alleged Trinamul goons when they reached the Burwan block office to submit their B Forms through which party symbols are allotted. In the scuffle, the B Forms of Congress workers were snatched away and destroyed. One worker received a head injury.
As news spread, state Congress chief and MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury started a sit-in in front of the block office on Tuesday. His sit-in continued as he simultaneously filed a petition in Calcutta High Court.
On Wednesday evening, he called off the sit-in after the court order.
"The BDO was a silent spectator even as our candidates were assaulted and their B Forms snatched away. We were denied basic electricity when we were sitting in protest. We are living in jungle raj. We understand this was done on the instructions of the chief minister," Chowdhury said.
The Congress MP alleged that the Burwan BDO denied the Congress workers permission to use the electricity of his office to run lights and fans during the sit-in. Congress workers later hired a generator but even that was denied entry to the premises of the block office.
"I had faith in the judiciary and so I moved court. I welcome the court's verdict. Congress activists will feel encouraged by this order," Chowdhury added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Chowdhury wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Bengal governor C.V. Ananda Bose informing both of them about the development of the events.
In his letter to Birla, Chowdhury said that the matter should be looked into by the privilege committee and strict action must be taken against BDO Manish Nandi.
Governor Bose, over the phone, also requested Chowdhury to call off the dharna.
At Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, Justice Amrita Sinha, who heard Chowdhury's plea, ordered that Congress candidates must get CRPF security and be taken to the block office on Thursday. In case the CRPF jawans were unavailable, the local superintendent of police would have to ensure the security of the Congress candidates, the judge ordered.
Congress sources said that through the Burwan incident, Chowdhury proved his clout as a political leader.
BDO Manish Nandi did not react to the events of the day.