'Oppn Enjoying Theater Of Deaths': TMC On Bengal Panchayat Poll Violence, Cong Says 'People's Mandate Looted

The ruling TMC, which lost six supporters in poll violence, questioned the absence of central forces sent for the elections.

As many as 27 persons had been slain since the panchayat elections were declared on June 8, according to TMC.

Source : PTI

Across political ideologies, all parties in West Bengal denounced the killing of 11 persons in various regions of the state on Saturday, as voting for panchayat elections began. The opposition BJP and CPI(M) claimed that the State Election Commission (SEC) failed to deploy central forces in accordance with Calcutta High Court instructions.

The ruling TMC, which lost six supporters in poll violence, questioned the absence of central forces sent for the elections.

“@BJP4India, @CPIM_WESTBENGAL and @INCWestBengal must be enjoying their front row seats in this theatre of death and mass destruction. The tragic deaths of two of our party workers in Basanti and Katwa highlight the incompetence of Central Forces who have been nothing but mute spectators. Is this how you celebrate democracy?” TMC tweeted. 

.@BJP4India, @CPIM_WESTBENGAL and @INCWestBengal must be enjoying their front row seats in this theatre of death and mass destruction.

The tragic deaths of two of our party workers in Basanti and Katwa highlight the incompetence of Central Forces who have been nothing but mute…

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 8, 2023

"Shocking incidents are being reported since last night. BJP, CPI(M) and Congress had colluded, demanding central forces. Where are they deployed? TMC workers are being murdered. Where are the central forces?" state minister Sashi Panja asked, PTI reported.

The TMC stated in a statement that 27 persons had been slain since the panchayat elections were declared on June 8, with 17 of them belonging to Trinamool, accounting for more than 60% of the overall fatalities. “If Trinamool were indeed instigating violence, as the media is alleging, why would their own workers be targeted and killed? The Opposition has conceded defeat and is now attempting to shape the narrative around how violence affected the election, utilising their allies in the media,” the statement was quoted by PTI in its report. 

"There is rampant usage of arms and the ruling Trinamool Congress is behind all these incidents. They had planned it well in advance to create disturbances on the polling day and loot votes. But I am happy to see that in some places, people have put up resistance," senior CPI(M) leader Dr Sujan Chakraborty claimed.

Speaking with PTI, Chakraborty stated: "I am quite surprised to see that the deployment of the central forces was not done as per the Calcutta High Court order. There seems to be some kind of understanding... It is a complete violation of the Court order."

When contacted, BJP leader Rahul Sinha alleged that the SEC is acting on the orders of the state's Trinamool Congress administration and has failed to fully execute its responsibilities, PTI reported.

"This is evident from the way they are conducting the polling today. At several booths, there are no central forces, while the state police are also absent in a few. I have got photographs as well as videos where CCTVs were not connected to wires even. This actually helped the miscreants carry out violence," he was quoted by PTI in its report.

Congress leader Kaustav Bagchi said he made a request to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court for an early hearing on a petition demanding the West Bengal panchayat elections on Saturday be declared null and invalid due to violence and fatalities.

Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP's leader in the state assembly, urged that President's Rule be implemented in the state, news agency ANI reported. Speaking with media, Adhikari stated: "The governor made the biggest mistake by appointing Rajiva Sinja...It is 3 pm & over 15 people have died, they were killed by TMC goons...Centre should intervene with either Article 355 or 356...we want action from custodian of constitution." 

On panchayat poll violence, BJP president JP Nadda spoke with West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari and BJP West Bengal in-charge Mangal Pandey. “BJP will not let this death of democracy happen and we will take this fight to a decisive level in a democratic way," Nadda said. 

BJP president JP Nadda speaks to West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari and BJP West Bengal in-charge Mangal Pandey on panchayat poll violence, he said that “BJP will not let this death of democracy happen and we will take this fight to a decisive level in a democratic way”

(File pic) pic.twitter.com/linNNL6q5m

— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023

Condemning the recent killings, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad stated: "More than one person has been killed during West Bengal panchayat polls and many injured...BJP condemns this reckless violence in Bengal."

#WATCH | "More than one person has been killed during West Bengal panchayat polls and many injured...BJP condemns this reckless violence in Bengal...": BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad pic.twitter.com/NuzZ0vVio9

— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023

Adhir Chowdhury, president of the State Congress, stated the election had devolved into a farce because "TMC goons are having a free run, and people's mandate has been looted."

(With Inputs From Agencies)