BATTLE lines are drawn clearly. Ruling party in West Bengal is now facing growing resistance and determination by people.

In the second day of polling on April 11, TMC stepped up their attacks in Paschim Midnapore, Bankura and Burdwan districts. Widespread violence and booth capturing took place in Keshpur. CPI(M) polling  agents were not allowed to sit in 110 booths from the beginning. They were forcefully evicted from most of the others after few hours. A woman polling agent was threatened public molestation and her home was attacked. This incident has been widely reported in media too. Bike-borne TMC gangs roamed freely and attacked CPI(M) polling agents, threatened voters, restrained villagers from coming to booths. There was no semblance of free and fair elections in the entire constituency.

In Chandrakona, TMC gangs brought criminals from outside and threatened and chased away voters in nearly 60 booths. They have attacked CPI(M) polling agents, injuring some of them. Large areas of the constituency were terrorised and voters could not proceed to polling booths at all. In Garbeta, in 109 booths, opposition polling agents were not allowed to enter at all. Series of booths were captured and villagers were forced to stay indoors. In Kharagpur, CPI(M) candidate Sajahan Ali was repeatedly cordoned by TMC activists wherever he went. Ali was forced to sit back in CPI(M) office. In Pingla AC, at least 14 booths were captured by TMC gangs.

In Narayangarh, TMC tried to cordon and heckle CPI(M) candidate and Party’s Polit Bureau member Surjyakanta Mishra throughout the polling day. They shouted slogans as Mishra moved to booths where there were signs of trouble. Later Mishra termed these incidents as reflection of sheer frustration of the ruling party.

Nearly 15 booths in Indas in Bankura and nearly 10 booths in Kotulpur were either captured or disturbed by TMC activists. Villagers were restrained from approaching booths. CPI(M) polling agents were threatened and attacked in some areas.

In Pandaveswar in Burdwan, people had to fight running battles with TMC gangs to exercise their voting rights. It continued after the elections too. CPI(M) supporters’ houses were torched, many were seriously injured. In Jamuria, polling agents were attacked on their way to booths. Many booths were cordoned by armed gangs and voters were obstructed on their way.

Despite repeated assurances from ECI, central forces were largely inactive or deliberately misused. They have not provided security to voters and did not intervene to stop intimidation. In Paschim Midnapore, the role of observers was surprising, particularly in Keshpur, Garbeta, Chandrakona, Dantan. They were unavailable on mobiles, or failed to respond to calls. Office of state election officer has virtually turned into an extension of the ruling party. After record number of complaints, CEO of West Bengal reported ‘nil’ incidents and pleaded helplessness in providing security to voters. In a virtual endorsement of violence, ECI office also claimed that they had nothing to do about ‘incidents outside the booth’. Left Front chairman Biman Basu alleged that backing out of ECI from their own promises smacks of an understanding between the BJP and the TMC, whereby Narendra Modi allows Mamata Banerjee to unleash terror to try to keep it in power in the state.

The resistance, however, came from the people. Despite terror and scorching heat, people came out in numbers to exercise their voting rights. There were incidents of chasing away the TMC gangs which were reported from Burdwan and Paschim Midnapore.   

FOCUS ON

CORRUPTION

The campaign of Left Secular Democratic candidates have has gained extraordinary momentum throughout the state. Huge rallies and processions are taking place. Third phase of elections will take place in Northern districts and Birbhum, which will be followed by Murshidabad, Nadia and remaining seats of Burdwan.

One of the notable features of the recent period is breaking up of Trinamool in many regions of the state. Large numbers of TMC supporters and activists have joined Left Secular Democratic forces in Birbhum, Darjeeling, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Bankura. In terror-stricken Nanur in Birbhum, TMC student wing activists broke off with party and the entire students union joined the SFI. In Darjeeling, a section of district leadership resigned from the party at a time when Mamata Banerjee herself was present in the district.

Corruption has become the focus of the election campaign particularly after the Narada news sting operation exposure. TMC and the government run by them have become an epitome of corruption. Saradha chit fund scam has amply proved how the ruling party in West Bengal is a bundle of corruption. Despite slackening of inquiry by the CBI, the involvement of top TMC leaders in chit fund scam was evident. Narada news video has created shivers as ministers, MPs, mayors were seen taking cash brazenly. The aversion created by the video has forced the TMC to declare a so-called ‘internal probe’ by the party, though initially they declined to take cognizance.

Campaign of the Left parties has received a boost with renowned legal experts, intellectuals and persons from different sections of society taking part in the campaign. Former chief secretary Ardhendu Sen, former justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly are among those who are calling upon the people to restore democracy in the state. ‘Akranta Amra’, a platform of the victims of attack in the last five years, has decided to field two candidates, supported by Left Front and the Congress. Ambikesh Mahapatra, the Jadavpur University professor who was arrested for forwarding a cartoon and Protima Dutta whose husband was killed trying to save a water body, are contesting elections.

As the battle proceeds, the prospect of a new government is becoming stronger day by day. Surjyakanta Mishra is explaining in his every public meeting the tasks of such a new government. His refrain that ‘Mamata Banerjee will have to resign on May 19 (day of counting)’ has become the popular slogan.

As this prospect is getting stronger, the apprehension of wider attacks by the TMC is getting stronger too. The coming phases will see more blood and sweat in the struggle for democracy in West Bengal.