IN the seventh and final round of elections, West Bengal again witnessed large scale booth capturing and rigging in some constituencies. Though the people came out in large numbers and foiled vote loot in many others.

Large scale violence and organized rigging was witnessed in Diamond Harbour constituency where the “prince” of TMC, nephew of the chief minister, Abhishek Banerjee was party’s candidate. From the very beginning of the election campaign TMC spread terror in the entire parliamentary constituency with direct connivance of state administration and police. The CPI(M) candidate Fuad Halim was attacked thrice. Left supporters were threatened, thrashed; villagers were told not to go to the polling booths. The TMC leaders openly declared in public meetings that nobody would be allowed to vote against them. Videos of such meetings were available in social media too. The Election Commission was informed time and again with virtually no action on its part. On the contrary, permission of 82 meetings and road shows were denied to the Left Front candidate.

Despite everything Left Front conducted vigorous campaign. The TMC brought criminals from outside in large numbers. On the day of elections, these gangs virtually took control of a large part of the constituency. In Falta assembly constituency (AC), 9 booths were fully rigged. In Satgachia AC, 27 booths, in Budge Budge AC, 124 booths, in Metiabruz AC, 13 booths, in Bishnupur 71 booths, in Diamond Harbour 25 booths were captured by TMC gangs. Though there were repeated requests made to the police for intervention; however it was denied.

It was clear that the state unit of the BJP has entered into an understanding with the TMC for latter’s support for its candidates in certain other constituencies like Mathurapur, Jadavpur etc., in return for the BJP’s support to the TMC candidate for Diamond Harbour.  

The CPI(M) candidate demanded CCTV footage scrutiny of the booths. On May 20, returning officer(RO) through a memo number 129(10)/1(8)/RO-21PC/2019 convened a meeting for scrutiny of those polling booths whose scrutiny was not taken up earlier.  When Fuad Halim himself went to attend the meeting, he was informed that some participants objected and hence the meeting has been cancelled.  Since the meeting was convened through a written memo, a similar written direction canceling the meeting was demanded.  In the letter, there is a mention that the general observer present asked for written directions of the chief electoral officer and, strangely, since it was not available, the RO, cancelled the meeting and in a written direction informed that the earlier memo has been  rescinded [Number 130(10)/RO-21PC/2019  dated May 20, 2019]. The objections to the holding of such a meeting came from both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.  It was clear that they wanted to cover up the rigging and the concerned officers acted under tremendous pressure from above.

The CPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury demanded re-polling in the entire constituency. He wrote to the ECI detailing the large scale irregularities.