In the midst of escalating post-poll violence, three ballot boxes were found abandoned in a drain in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, a day after the state held three-tier panchayat elections. The recovery of these discarded ballot boxes further highlights the aftermath of the violence that marred the electoral process.
The rural polls in Bengal witnessed widespread violence, leading to the loss of at least 20 lives, extensive vandalism of ballot boxes, and targeted bomb attacks against opponents in various villages. The recovery of these ballot boxes from the drain has further fueled concerns regarding the fairness and security of the electoral process.
A local resident, speaking to ANI, expressed the prevailing fear and apprehension among the general public, stating, “The situation is not good after the elections, and people are afraid to come out.” He further added, “The general public is in panic. If anyone comes out, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) threatens.”
On Saturday, July 8, eligible voters in West Bengal exercised their right to vote to elect representatives for nearly 928 seats across 22 zilla parishads, 9,730 panchayat samities, and 63,229 gram panchayats. Unfortunately, the elections were marred by violence, resulting in the loss of lives. Several instances of ballot box vandalism and targeted attacks with explosives against rivals in various villages were also reported.
The political landscape has become increasingly charged as parties engage in a war of words, with each side accusing the other of orchestrating the violence. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for the imposition of President’s Rule in the state, while the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has blamed the opposition for instigating violence during the panchayat polls.
The State Election Commissioner (SEC), Rajiva Sinha, has taken note of the poll-related violence and has assured that complaints of vote tampering will be thoroughly investigated. The SEC also stated that decisions on possible re-polling in certain booths would be made after receiving reports from observers and returning officers.
The discovery of abandoned ballot boxes in a drain highlights the need for a swift and impartial investigation into the incidents of violence and vandalism. It is crucial for the authorities to address these issues to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and restore trust among the electorate.
The incidents of post-poll violence in Bengal’s Murshidabad district serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining peace, security, and fairness during elections. The authorities must take prompt action to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice and implement measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Sources By Agencies