West Bengal governor C V Ananda Bose on Saturday directed State Election Commission to conduct free and fair panchayat polls in the state and said no violence will be tolerated amid reports of violence in connection with filing of nomination in some areas.

Bose held an emergency meeting with state election commissioner (SEC) Rajiva Sinha after major chaos and violence broke out in various parts of West Bengal including Domkal in Murshidabad over alleged non-availability of nomination papers. He also enquired about central forces and police forces.

“Panchayat election will be conducted in a free and fair manner. However, violence will not be tolerated at any cost. I had an urgent meeting with the state election commissioner. All steps to be taken to see elections are conducted in free and fair manner,” the governor said.

A BJP delegation led by state president Sukanta Majumdar met Bose to apprise him about the present situation.

“BJP workers could not file nomination papers as nomination papers were not available and there were incidents of violence in several places,” Majumdar said after meeting the governor. “We had to arrange nomination papers and give to the candidates. In some places, BDO (block development officer) apologised with folded hands,” he said.

The SEC has called an all-party meeting on June 13 to sort out any issue.