Violence continues in Asansol; opposition candidates can't file nominations

The Supreme Court refused to interfere in the upcoming West Bengal's Panchayat Polls, saying parties should approach the state election commission with their grievances. The West Bengal unit of the BJP accused the ruling Trinamool congress party activists of preventing BJP candidates from filing nominations. They told the SC that "democracy is being murdered" in the state and sought the top court's intervention. The BJP had also asked for nomination papers to be made available online, an extension of the last date of filing these papers and the deployment of paramilitary forces in the state in the run up to the polls.