Modi condemns poll violence in West Bengal, says it was murder of democracy

While delivering a speech on the Karnataka election result here, he attacked the government in West Bengal without naming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"What happened in West Bengal is a matter of grave concern for democracy. It is shocking that it is occurring in Bengal which led India on many fronts in the past century," said Modi.

He said from the filing of nomination to the holding of polls, Bengal witnessed unabated violence. "The scenes from the Panchayat Elections in West Bengal. It was nothing but a murder of democracy. From the nomination stage to the day of polling, where was the spirit of democracy?" he said.

"People were disallowed to file nominations also. It is not only BJP people who suffered. People from all the leading parties except the one that rules Bengal suffered. This is serious. A land as great as West Bengal has to see such sights, it is unfortunate," he said.

Killings, bombing and booth capturing by firearms wielding political goons turned West Bengal's three-tier Panchayat polls into a bloodied affair on Monday as violence claimed 19 lives, according to various reports.

From burning to death a couple of an opposition political party to killing of innocent voters, West Bengal turned into a combat zone leaving a trail of bodies and injured people.

Local televison channels daylong beamed footages of bloodied bodies, wailing victims' families and scenes of ballot box burning.

Opposition parties called the election a farce and even some demanded President's Rule even as the ruling Trinamool Congress called the entire episode a pre-planned plot of the rivals.

The role of the state election commission also came under attack owing to the unabated daylong violence.