Central force personnel at Howrah station on Sunday. Around 80 companies (8,000 personnel) of central forces reached Howrah, Calcutta, Kharagpur and Bankura for deployment for the first phase of the panchayat polls on July 11. The forces belong to the Seema Suraksha Bal, CRPF, RPF and the BSF.The Centre will send 150 companies for the first phase of polls in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. The remaining companies are expected to arrive on Monday. Many personnel reached Purulia on Sunday. Picture by Anup Bhattacharya

July 7: State election commissioner Mira Pande today said she would look into video recordings of speeches made by Mamata Banerjee and Madan Mitra in the past two days.

Asked about comments made by Mamata and Mitra, Pande said in Calcutta this evening: “Age CD dekhi, ekhono kono decision neini (Let me first see the CD. I have not taken any decisions).”

Commission sources said the panel had sought video recordings of statements made by sports and transport minister Mitra at West Midnapore’s Danton today and the chief minister at south Barasat yesterday.

Mitra today said “Mira Pande babu” would have to “hide her face” after July 30, by when the panchayat election results are expected to be declared.

“Mira Pande babu, 30 tarikher por mukh lukote hobe. Jader paramarshe cholchhen, 30 tarikher por tader paramarsha nite gele desher baire jete hobe (Mira Pande babu, you will have to hide your face after July 30. You will have to go out of the country after July 30 if you have to take the advice of those who are advising you now),” Mitra told reporters during a road show.

Hours after Trinamul skipped an all-party meeting called by the commission yesterday on the panchayat polls, Mamata had said: “Today, an all-party meeting was called. Some are asking why the Trinamul Congress did not go. Why should we go? You have been taking all decisions unilaterally; why should we go? Did you ever listen to us?

“Did you listen to what we had to say about the elections not being held during Ramazan? Did you listen to what we said on the elections not being held on Jumma (Friday)? Did you listen to what we said about the possibility of floods? You didn’t. Why should we go?”