K.V Seetharamaiah
It is no news if the West Bengal elections witness large-scale violence. Stray incidents of violence are reported in almost all the elections from every part of India. But nothing can match the level of violence West Bengal witnesses. At least 21 people are reported dead in the violence triggered off in the panchayat election. Rigging, looting, threats and murders have marked the poll violence. It is appalling that the instigators have wreaked violence despite the presence of central forces. TMC alleges that BSF was missing at the instance of BJP. TMC was averse to the deployment of central forces which BJP favoured. The Calcutta High Court dismissed the plea of TMC against central forces. The high-handedness of TMC goons to impair the election process is too well-known. It was usual that violence breaks out before and during polls. Generally, the dust settles after the election. There is little reason for the continued violence post-election. But West Bengal is known for post-poll violence also. TMC and Congress clashes in Tinkapuria and fresh violence from Murshidabad have been reported. Free and fair election is far from reality in West Bengal. The Panchayat poll violence started snow-balling in the third of week of June per se. On the occasion of the Ramanavami procession, stone-pelting incident took place. In the violence, many vehicles were reportedly torched and auto rickshaws were destroyed. But TMC was quick to blame BJP for the incident. It is unimaginable that BJP engineers stone-pelting and TMC is opposed to it. It is unfortunate that elections leave many families orphaned due to the death of workers from all the political parties. The present-day politics anywhere in the world leaves people with Hobson’s choice of either saving the life without taking part in politics or risking life by taking part in politics.
