1. This writ petition has been presented in person citing grounds of urgency. Notice was directed to be served on the respondents and, pursuant to such notice, the respondents/State Election Commission (for short the Commission) as well as the State Respondents are represented in person.

2. On behalf of one of the contesting parties connected to the election in issue, viz. the election to the three tiered Panchayat bodies as notified by the Commission on 2nd April, 2018, Mr. Kalyan Banerjee, Vice President of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) represents his party in person.

3. It is submitted by Mr. Kalyan Banerjee that the AITMC is a necessary party to the writ petition, although not impleaded. Therefore, he seeks leave to intervene and, on the basis of the submissions presented before this Court today, the intervention is upheld. Therefore, the first direction which is issued by this Court is upon the petitioner to add the AITMC, a contesting party to the said election, as a party respondent to the writ petition.

4. Liberty is granted to amend the cause title of the writ petition accordingly.

5. After hearing in detail the submissions advanced by the petitioner in pe