Bengal panchayat poll violence claims 14 lives, Oppn blasts Mamata govt

In an almost repeat of the 2018 panchayat polls, bombs, guns and rigging were reported from various parts of the country's one of the biggest states a year ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Among 14 killed, the majority were from the ruling Trinamool Congress while others were from the Opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Left and Congress resembling the 2018 polls where the incumbent had controversially won 34 percent of the total seats uncontested.

In some parts of the state, ballot boxes were on Saturday burnt, thrown into water or even locked, crippling the free flow of the election process. Electoral officers were assaulted in some polling booths.

Though the Supreme Court had affirmed the Calcutta High Court order of holding the elections with central forces, paramilitary personnel were rarely spotted in the polling booths on Saturday.

It is important to note, the central forces are deployed as per the direction of the state police, which is run by the TMC government.

A senior officer in charge of the central forces said, as reported by The Telegraph, not more than four jawans will be deployed in one place over concern for the security of the troops.

The bloodshed on the polling day was just a continuation of what had happened over the last one month since the elections were announced by State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha, a former West Bengal Chief Secretary who worked under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

About 18 people were killed during the nomination process of the panchayat elections.

Bhangar, where the ruling TMC is at the loggerheads with new party Indian Secular Front, turned out to be the hotbed of violence and clashes.

TMC-Opposition blame game

Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, "People won't get respite unless they vote against Mamata Banerjee and land her in jail. Presidential rule or at least Article 355 during elections is required in the state to conduct free elections."

The Left held a protest march in front of the SEC office, which the Opposition claims to be working at per the direction of the ruling party.

"SEC, Mamata Banerjee and police have indulged in violence by not deploying the Army. Not just the ones from Left, Congress or ISF who were killed but Mamata Banerjee is also responsible for the deaths of all who were from TMC," said CPI-M state secretary Md. Salim.

In a sarcastic comment, Congress MP and state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "Voting had started last night. I congratulate Mamata Banerjee for winning. She will celebrate on July 11 (result day)."

West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja said, "The Opposition, be it Left or Congress or BJP or ISF, wanted to disrupt the peaceful elections. Irrespective of that, peaceful voting was held without any incident in 13-14 districts.

"The minor to major incidents have occurred in 60 out of 61,539 booths. The figure is extremely low but that too shouldn't have occurred."