'Jungle Raj In Bengal': TMC, Opposition Trade Blames Over Incidents Of Violence Ahead Of Panchayat Polls

Bengal Panchayat Polls: The Opposition — comprising BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) — and the ruling Trinamool Congress are engaged in a bitter battle accusing one another of instigating violence.

As the deadline for the Bengal panchayat election nominations approaches, the war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Opposition is intensifying. Both sides are hurling allegations of their respective candidates and workers being manhandled and assaulted.  The Opposition — comprising the BJP, the Congress, and the CPI(M) — has alleged that the ruling "Trinamool Congress's goons" prevented their candidates from filing nominations using force. The TMC, on the other hand, rubbished the claim and said that these were falsehoods spread by the Opposition as they did not have "rural support".

On Monday, BJP's Suvendu Adhikary, who is the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, demanded the deployment of Central forces during the Panchayat polls. "There is jungle raj in West Bengal. Deployment of Central forces and monitoring by the court is important for free and fair Panchayat elections in the state," Adhikari said.

On the other hand, the TMC on Monday alleged that its workers and candidate were assaulted by Congress supporters as they went to file nominations for the panchayat polls in Murshidabad. The TMC also accused the Congress of assaulting its nominee in Kakdwip of South 24 Parganas, reported Anandabazar Patrika Online. The TMC also alleged that the CPI(M) instigating violence in several areas, including Barashul of East Burdwan.

In Murshidabad's Khargram, the Congress has accused the ruling TMC of shooting dead its worker. The CPM and the Congress have also alleged that the TMC was preventing their candidates from filing their nominations. Taking this plea, the two parties blocked a procession of a TMC candidate who was going to file his nomination. This led to a violent clash, in which, TMC claimed, its workers were injured. A similar drama unfolded in South 24 Parganas's Kakdwip. The Congress-CPM alliance however denied the allegations, the Anandabazar Patrika Online reported read.

STATE ELECTION COMMISSION EXTENDS NOMINATION FILING DEADLINE

The State Election Commission (SEC) informed the Calcutta High Court on Monday that it is prepared to extend the deadline for filing nominations for panchayat polls in West Bengal by one day until June 16, reported news agency PTI. Previously, Opposition leaders had petitioned for an extension of the nomination filing date and the deployment of central forces for the upcoming July 8 polls. On June 9, the court acknowledged that the allotted time for filing nominations seemed insufficient.

During the proceedings on Monday, SEC counsel Jayanta Mitra presented a report to the division bench led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam. Mitra suggested extending the deadline for nominations to June 16, pointing out that such extensions had been granted in the past, providing six days for this purpose.

SEC MULLS SECTION 144 AROUND NOMINATION CENTRES

In the wake of the allegations of clashes outside several nomination centres, the SEC is now considering enforcing Section 144 in such areas. "We are contemplating imposition of prohibitory order under Section 144 Crpc around nomination venues very soon. Once we take the decision, the notification will be issued and passed on to the DMs on clamping Section 144 CrPC and will be in force within a 1 km radius distance of every such venue to prevent gathering," an SEC official told PTI.

The official said over 10,000 nomination papers were filed for three-tier elections on the first two days across the state with the majority numbers filed by Opposition parties.