Calcutta: The impasse over fresh Bengal panchayat poll dates continued on Wednesday as the state election commission didn't meet government officials on the issue even as 40-odd minority organisations asked the panel against scheduling voting during Ramazan.

Many had expected the commission to hold talks with major political parties - key stakeholders in the polls - and consult the police top brass before meeting state officials to decide the number of election phases and dates.

But the poll panel did not meet the parties or the government after the minority organisations met commissioner A.K. Singh and told him that the election dates should not clash with the Ramazan month beginning mid-May.

"Poll dates, not even one of them, should clash with the holy month. If that happens, we will move court. We told the commissioner that. He took very serious note," said a representative of one of the organisations.

Sources said the commission had been toying with the idea of voting in two or three phases in mid-May - raising the probability of at least one stage clashing with Ramazan.

Muhammad Kamruzzaman, general secretary of the All Bengal Minority Youth Federation, said counting could take place in the holy month, not voting.

"In the original schedule (of voting on May 1, 3 and 5), there was no clash with Ramazan. Now we find there is a possibility of an overlap. That should not happen. It directly concerns a third of the state's electorate."

Sources said the Ramazan-related move was initiated by some in the ruling establishment after the panel started insisting on multi-stage polls.

The commission had told the government it does not want further legal challenges and pointed out that the Election Commission of India has earlier scheduled Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the holy month, the sources said.

"That's why the delegations went on Wednesday to discourage the commission from taking such a step," said a source.

Since the meeting a few days ago where the commission had spelt out its stand, it did not meet the parties or the government. Sources in Nabanna, the state secretariat, said the talks were likely on Thursday.

The sources said the commission had been told more than once that the government did not want the polls to coincide with the holy month and would prefer single-phase elections on May 14 or 15.

The commission is wary of announcing a single-phase election after having earlier notified three-stage polls, the sources said. Such a move may be challenged in the high court, embarrassing the panel soon after a single-judge bench had stalled the poll process over violence in nominations, they added.

On Thursday, the commission was informed by the police brass that 46,000 armed personnel and 12,000 lathi-wielding personnel would be made available for the polls.

"There are 58,000-odd booths and 58,000-odd personnel. The polls can be held in one phase, with one personnel per booth. But the commission is unwilling to accept it," said an official.