Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, wanted villages of India to be laboratories for the experiment of Indian democracy, but as long as parties like Trinamool Congress (TMC) are at the helm of state affairs, it can never be achieved. The Panchayat Raj Act was brought in 1990s to achieve grassroots level democracy in India but Trinamool Congress wanted to win local elections through booth capturing and violence. People of West Bengal have suffered from organized crime and communal violence since long. Initially, democracy could not be taken to the grassroots level in the state due to disastrous Communist rule for 34 years. Today, the same is happening at the hands of the TMC government. People have voted Mamata into power to get rid of the violent Communist rule which they were suffering under for decades. During the Left’s rule in the state, people were forcibly asked to vote for CPI(M) leaders by party cadres. TMC government seems to have gone one step ahead by adding more fuel to the vote coercion formula.
West Bengal is voting for three tier Panchayat polls today, and the interesting thing about this election is that “34% of TMC candidates are being elected unopposed”. The Supreme Court expressed its reservations about free and fair elections and “directed the State Election Commission to withhold declaring the results for the 20,000 plus seats where the Trinamool Congress won by default, as there were no other contestants”.
The fate of these 20,000 plus candidates who were declared winners following the Supreme Court’s order is still uncertain. Such is level of fear spread by the TMC workers that no candidate dares to stand against the party’s candidates because those who dare to do so are being attacked. A few days back, Trinamool strongman Arabul Islam allegedly murdered a supporter of an independent candidate in Bhangar, 25km north of Kolkata. Arabul Islam is involved in criminal activities since long; earlier in 2013 he was expelled from the party but was brought back because Mamata Banerjee realized his importance in carrying out criminal activities like booth capturing for Trinamool Congress. In another incident, Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister, Rabindra Nath Ghosh allegedly slapped a BJP candidate inside a polling booth in Cooch Behar even as voting for the West Bengal Panchayat elections are underway. As per Economic Times, after Ghosh slapped the person, the minister’s supporters pounced on the BJP leader and thrashed him. The incident, which reportedly took place in the presence of police, was caught on camera.
Various incidents of violence and booth capturing are being reported across the state. Hindustan Times reported that three people have been killed and a journalist was attacked in the afternoon. This shows complete failure on part of the state government in carrying out free and fair elections.
India Today reported that angry locals are throwing out ballot box in canal after outrage over alleged rigging.
#Bengal #PanchayatElection: Angry locals trash ballot boxes into canal over allegations of rigging and booth capturing in the Jyangra-Hatiara gram panchayat in North 24 Pargana district.#ReporterDiary @iindrojit pic.twitter.com/qpjXK0yveg
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) May 14, 2018
While all this goes party leaders like Derek O’Brien are busy in defending and defaming the media rather than taking strong actions against their goons.
Garbage. Reporters drive our reporting not the other way around. Scurrilous attack. Get your priorities right. Stop the violence instead of defaming Media. https://t.co/0y4ZH3qpWt
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) May 14, 2018
Free and fair local elections have been an illusion for the people of Bengal for a long time. The previous Communist governments in West Bengal were known for outsourcing the work of police to party workers, in the same fashion which is a trademark of communist governments across the world. In the 34 year long rule in the state, the Left has destroyed its industries and resources completely. Calcutta, which used to be a major India city for business activities at the time of independence, is in a dying state today, characterized by no outdated infrastructure and stale economic activity. Mamata has proudly placed herself on the “Left of the Left” as she undertakes her task with the destruction of the state’s resources.
Poor governance has been a trait of the TMC since it came to power in the state. Mamata Banerjee remains in news either for her controversial statements or for riots which are s regular occurrence in the state in the past decade.
One can only hope that Ms. Banerjeee will follow Rajdharma in the remaining years of her rule and not continue to loot and fool the common man of Bengal through violence and coercion.