In its point-by-point rejoinder, the EC said Banerjee's letter regarding booth capturing and the presence of outsiders at a polling booth in Boyal was "preceded by a massive coverage all over the country.
Justice Shampa Sarkar directed that Banerjee's election petition will be taken up for hearing on August 12.
As part of the protest, BJP workers burned tyres, blocked roads, and closed shops in Nandigram, alleging that Trinamool Congress-backed criminals were responsible for the killing of Rathibala Arhi, a saffron party worker in Sonachura village.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking direction for investigation by an independent probe agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation into the March 10 incident where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sustained leg injury after an alleged attack on her in Nandigram.
The TMC supremo, who started her poll campaign for the Bhabanipur by-election, also alleged that the saffron party is targeting party general secretary and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee for political reasons, claiming there is no valid case against him.
'The life of his political career is dependent on success in this constituency.'
On Monday, the TMC leader had alleged that the returning officer of Nandigram did not order recounting of votes even after she demanded it as he feared for his life.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has slammed the Maha Kumbh as a "Mrityu Kumbh" (Death Kumbh), accusing the Uttar Pradesh government of suppressing the actual toll in the stampede that occurred at the religious gathering. Banerjee also criticized the lack of planning and management at the event, highlighting the plight of Bengal residents who died in the stampede. The BJP, however, has condemned Banerjee's remarks, calling her an "anti-Hindu chief minister" and accusing her of political opportunism.
"There were some incidents, but it was controlled. The Central forces sought by the state administration are yet to arrive. We had written to the Centre yesterday seeking forces," Home Secretary P R Roy told reporters in Kolkata.
The last two companies of Central Reserve Police Force, deployed at the height of violence in trouble-torn Nandigram, have been withdrawn.
Fresh violence broke out on Monday in West Bengal's embattled Nandigram between supporters of the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, which is opposing land acquisition for industrialisation, and activists of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist. Sources said both sides exchanged fire and hurled bombs at each other at a new area in Nandigram, where two BUPC members were injured.
Claiming Banerjee has been made aware that Justice Kausik Chanda, who is hearing her plea, was 'an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party' and since the adjudication of the election petition will have political ramifications, it was prayed that the matter be assigned to another judge by the Acting Chief Justice, who is the master of roster.
"I own up responsibility for the lapses in Nandigram on behalf of the state government. I don't want any more deaths."
Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are contesting in all the 30 seats, while the Communist Party of India-Marxist is in the fray in 15 and its alliance partners of Sanjukta Morcha the Congress and ISF are competing in 13 and two seats respectively.
Tata said, "Please disassociate Tatas from Nandigram. We are not in Nandigram. We are in a place called Singur. The two places are contiguous to each other."
A BUPC member alleged that a woman was attacked by CPI-M activists for her active role in the land acquisition resistance agitation.
An eight-member CBI team arrived in Nandigram on Wednesday to continue the investigation into the March 14 police firing, which left 14 dead.
Bombs were thrown and guns were fired at Tulaghata area of Nandigram when a PTI correspondent was present there.
In Rajya Sabha, BJP members and the lone Trinamool Congress member Dinesh Trivedi sought to raise the Nandigram issue as soon as the House met for the day.
The CPM argued that though the Kolkatta high court order asking the Central Bureau of Investigation was judicially not correct, it will not contest the order.
Temples across Uttar Pradesh were packed with devotees on Sunday for Ram Navami, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath leading prayers at the Gorakhnath Temple. Heavy crowds were witnessed at temples in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Varanasi, where security was heightened. In Gorakhpur, Adityanath performed the traditional kanya pujan ritual, while in Varanasi, a 51-foot statue of Lord Ram has become a major attraction. The festival was celebrated with enthusiastic fervor across the state.
The East Midnapore District Superintendent of Police A K Dutta told PTI that there had been no incident of violence.
Seeking the abolition of the SEZ policy, the INLD suggested framing of Manufacturing Investment Region policy to boost investment and production.
In a video, Mamata Banerjee can be seen pouring tea into paper cups from a large kettle as people gather around her and record videos of the act.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said he would visit places in Nandigram, where post-poll violence was allegedly reported.
"Why was the server down for four hours? We are willing to accept people's mandate but if the result of one place has anomalies, there may be something beyond what appears. We have to seek the truth," she added.
Whether the age-old cry of kendrer banchana will be able to drown out pangs of Sandeshkhali, the EVM will tell.
Ten persons, including a physically-challenged man, were allegedly assaulted by drunk soldiers of the Eastern Frontier Rifles over a petty issue near Rajaramchak High School where a camp had been set up to oversee the law and order situation on Tuesday night.
Violent protests erupted in Parbhani, Maharashtra, India, for the second day over the vandalising of a replica of the Indian Constitution. Prohibitory orders were imposed in the city, banning gatherings of five or more people in public places. A mob indulged in arson and vandalised the district collector's office. Police arrested a man in connection with the incident, but protests continued. Protesters demanded a thorough investigation and blamed the government's lax approach.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhattacharya on Sunday said the Communist Party of India-Marxist would guard against the creation of a Nandigram-like similar situation anywhere in the state.
Patkar also lauded Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi for indicting the CPM for its role in the violence.
IGP (law and order) Raj Kanojia told PTI in Kolkata that the police inspector was critically injured when a bullet hit him on his head while he was on duty near Bhangabera, close to Sonachura.
Acting on a tip-off, CRPF personnel went to the Janani brick kiln area with sniffer dogs and found the bombs hidden in the bushes.
Sources said the police personnel complained of lack of food, accomodation and medical facilities.
All shops, barring medicine stores and tea stalls, downed their shutters in Nandigram bazar, Sonachura, Satengabari and Mahespur localities while buses did not ply in the area, police said.
Coming close on the heels of the recovery of charred bones and portions of skulls from five graves, the CBI has found more bones from a canal near a village at Nandigram.
Adequate number of policemen were kept ready for going to the area, but they did not enter the villages fearing escalation of tension, police said.
Meanwhile, intermittent firing and bomb blasts were reported from CPI(M) strongholds of Tekhalibazar and Bhangabera areas since last evening.
The National Democratic Alliance will discuss the issue of land acquisition in Nandigram, which sparked off violence claiming several lives, Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh said in Kolkata on Tuesday.
