The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has grabbed control of more than two-thirds panchayats in West Bengal by sounding the idea of empowering marginalised sections of society through decentralisation of power. AITC may be pleased with the massive victory, but there has been too much bloodshed in the run up to the elections, leaving nearly 50 dead and thousands injured. This bloodshed is indicative of the fact that the atmosphere was not conducive for free and fair elections and in all probability the outcome was not the true reflection of popular opinion; rather, it may be termed as a victory secured by muscle power.
It was apparent that the ruling party had tried to hoodwink the opposition by using the administration in its favour. For instance, the date of the panchayat poll was announced on the very first day when the new State Election Commissioner (SEC) took charge. It provides ample evidence that the newly-appointed SEC had no say in deciding the poll date. He acted simply as a rubber stamp of the state administration while announcing the poll day. Again, panchayat elections in West Bengal have always been a huge affair as there are altogether 74 thousands seats in the state. Many believe that the election was hurriedly announced to catch the opposition parties on the wrong foot by allowing them very little time to make necessary preparations.
When it seemed that the particular trick was not working in its favour as opposition parties were uniting to put up a strong fight against the incumbent, violence started to dominate the poll scene. The ruling party may claim that violence was confined to certain places and the rest of the state was peaceful, the fact remains that a terrible sense of fear spread all over the state as the ruling party supporters and workers took the law into their own hands. Desperate cries for central forces could not be answered as the issue got tangled in legality. Finally, when the issue was resolved, there was hardly any time for the central security forces to reach the state on time. Such a situation could easily have been avoided if the authorities had allowed adequate and timely deployment of security forces.
Over the years, election and violence have become synonymous in West Bengal. It is truly perplexing how a state known for its Bhadralok (Gentleman) culture turns into a battlefield with the sounding of the poll bugle. It’s citizens may given up some traditions, but they appear not to be able to part ways with violence. The situation has been correctly summed up by a minister in the West Bengal cabinet who categorically stated that there was no need for such violence as AITC would have won the election anyway. It would be good for the state if his party colleagues start thinking the same way by saying goodbye to electoral violence forever. The integrity of democracy resides in free and fair polls and violence must not be allowed to muddle it.
