Top State Poll Official Mamata's 'Contract Killer', Says Suvendu As Violence Mars Bengal Panchayat Polls — 5 Points

Incidents of violence continue to make headlines during the ongoing Bengal Panchayat polls. Here's what happened so far.

Voting is underway for West Bengal Panchayat elections and there seems to be no limit to the incidents of violence taking place across the state. Reports of attacks at several booths, ballot box burning and the death of a polling agent have come forth since the voting began on Saturday. Notably, the run-up to the rural polls also witnessed a number of deaths and unrest leading to the deployment of Central forces. The issue even went to the Supreme Court which upheld the High Court's decision to allow the deployment amid numerous cases of violent clashes.

Here Are Top 5 Points On Bengal Panchayat Polls 

• Trinamool Congress on Saturday claimed that three of its party workers have been killed ahead of the panchayat polls in West Bengal. "...Three of our party workers have been murdered in Rejinagar, Tufanganj and Khargram and two have been left wounded from gunshots in Domkol," the party claimed. Reacting to the development, West Bengal minister Shashi Panja said, "Shocking and tragic incidents have unfolded the night before which has just started this morning in the Panchayat elections in West Bengal. The BJP, CPI(M) and Congress had colluded together and were clamouring for Central forces. Where is the deployment?."

 

• West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday termed the day of Panchayat Polls in the state as the 'most sacred day for democracy'. He said that elections should be held through 'ballots and not bullets'. The remarks came on various incidents of violence that have been reported from different districts in the state. He said,"I have been in the field right from the morning...People requested me, stopped my motorcade on the way. They told me about the murders happening around them, told me about the goons not allowing them to go to the polling booths...It should cause concern to all of us. This is the most sacred day for democracy...Election must be through ballots and not bullets.."

 

• A Bharatiya Janata Party candidate claimed she sustained injuries after being attacked by hooligans while her polling agent succumbed to injuries during panchayat polls in Bengal. The polling agent, Madhav Vishwas was killed in the attack on a polling booth in Falimari gram panchayat of Cooch Behar, while the candidate Maya Burman was admitted to a hospital, she claimed, accusing Trinamool Congress for the attacks. "TMC goons hurled a bomb at my agent and killed him. They also attacked me," Burman said as per news agency ANI. 

 

• West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari tweeted some photos and videos of violence and said, "West Bengal Panchayat Elections - Carnival of DEMO'N'CRACY. Mamata Banerjee's henchman & contract killer; State Election Commissioner Rajiv Sinha is executing her plans across the State." While talking to media, Adhikari slammed the Mamata Banerjee government and said, "This is not an election, this is death. There is a fire of violence across the state. Central forces have not been deployed. CCTVs are not operating. This is not voting but loot...This is the collusion of TMC goons and Police and that is why so murders are happening."

 

• Meanwhile, a polling booth in Cooch Behar was damaged and the ballot box was burnt by miscreants soon after voting began here. In a similar kind of incident, voting was discontinued as a booth was attacked in Jalpaiguri, reports PTI. TMC and Congress workers clashed over the jumping of queues by some voters at Booth No. 23 in Kolabedia area of Domkal while ballot boxes were stolen and the booth in Barasat was destroyed during the polls.