Despite large-scale violence and intimidation, the BJP has been able to file 60 per cent nomination in the panchayat polls, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said on Monday.

The state BJP also welcomed Supreme Court (SC) verdict that directed the state election commission (SEC) to exercise it powers to ensure free and fair polls.

Though the ruling party is trying to mislead the people about the verdict, Mr Ghosh said that doors are open for justice if the SEC failed to discharge its responsibility.

“We must congratulate to our workers, who fought against the unprecedented violence unleashed by the TMC backed goons and was able to submit nomination papers. Women BJP workers faced horrible terror even some of them were molested while filing nomination papers. BJP’s women candidates despite being thrashed by the male TMC workers, finally deposited their nomination papers,” he said.

Mr Ghosh, however, asked the BJP workers for preparing themselves to fight against TMC-backed goons in the panchayat poll. “If the TMC tries to unleash violence on the day of the polls, they will be paid back in the same coin. If they attack us with bombs and pistols, we won’t greet them with a plate of sweets. We have to be prepared for all eventualities. We will fight till the end,” Mr Ghosh said.

The state BJP said that their panchayat candidates successfully filed nomination papers in the districts of the North Bengal but they faced stiff situation in the South Bengal as because some of the terror tactics of TMC leaders, who prevented BJP candidates to file nomination by sending outside goons near the BDO offices during filing of nomination papers.

The SC on Monday refused to extend the last date for the filing of nominations for panchayat polls saying it could not interfere with the election process.

“The top court, however, granted liberty to all candidates to approach the SEC for appropriate relief. We welcomed the judgment of the SC. A long queue has been formed in front of the SEC office on Monday to file nomination papers by the candidates, who failed to deposit it in their respective local BDO offices following violence of the TMC-backed goons.”

“Several candidates send nomination papers through online. We discuss this matter with SEC so they could file nomination papers,” he said. The BJP had on 6 March told the apex court that “democracy is being murdered” in West Bengal as the ruling TMC was engaged in large scale violence and not allowing its candidates to file nominations for the upcoming panchayat polls.

It had also sought availability of nomination papers online, extension of the last date for filing these papers and deployment of paramilitary forces in the state in the runup to the polls.

According to the notification, the last date for filing of nominations is 9 April and the last date of scrutiny of the nominations is 11 April. Mr Ghosh also on Monday severely criticised TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee for his statement that Opposition parties are falsely claiming regarding violence during filing of the nomination paper.

“TMC party is shameless. Mr Chatterjee knows everything regarding the severe violence that happened in the state over filing of nomination paper,” he said.