A five-member fact finding team of the BJP, led by former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, which is currently visiting West Bengal to inquire into the violence that erupted during the July 8 panchayat elections, and, thereater, on counting day, on July 13 met with Governor CV Anand Bose.
Addressing media persons outside Raj Bhavan after calling on the Governor, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, There was a gross violation of law (in the conduct of the panchayat polls).” The former Union minister said the delegation visited several violence-affected areas on July 12 and “took note of few things”.
“We went inside the house of few Mandal candidates, who were attacked. We met a 13-year-old boy, who had sustained a deep cut. Women are living in fear and CCTV cameras have been damaged, “Ravi Shankar Prasad added.
Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged further that the house of a daily wager, who had to leave home and move to Tamil Nadu in search of a livelihood, was also attacked during the poll violence.
“He had saved up money to build his own house. His only fault was that he had put up a portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside his house. His television set was damaged. He had to run away from the State, fearing for his life and livelihood,” Ravi Shankar Prasad said, adding, “His mother broke down on seeing us.”
“Further, during our inquiry, we learned that the police did not show urgency to agaisnt the perpetrators of the poll-related violence. We checked with all the victims if they had lodged a complaint with the law enforcers. They said they did but the police took no action,” the veteran BJP leader said.
“We met the governor and sought police action in the matter. What happened is unfortunate and deeply regrettable. It’s over to the governor now,” the former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad added.
On July 11, the BJP constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to inquire into the violence on the polling and counting days.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, on July 12, criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying, “You (Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) won because the court was strict. We will visit the affected areas. I belong to Bihar, where incidents like these are a matter of past. Elections are conducted in a peaceful manner in my State. I heard that a murder was reported on the counting day as well. You have shamed democracy,” said the BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Notably, violence broke out in West Bengal ahead of the Gram Panchayat elections, which was previously to be held on July 8. However, the voting day was marred with widespread violence, looting of ballots papers and rigging.
There were reports of booth capturing, damaging of ballot boxes and assault of presiding officers from several districts such as Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Malda, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur and Nadia.
Reports also emerged of ballot boxes being set on fire and clashes between political parties in different locations. As a result, the State Election Commission announced the re-pollling of the Panchayat election on July 10. So, it concluded on July 10, and the counting was carried out on July 11.
Ever since the Panchayat elections were declared in West Bengal, 17 people have been killed, and hundreds were injured in targeted political assassinations perpetrated by those running the State. The number of deaths would have been much higher, had it not been for the Central Forces deployed.
The violence scarred polls saw the ruling Trinamool Congress secure a decisive, though disputed, 28,985 seats, with the BJP a distant second at 7,764 seats and the Congress third at 2,022 seats.
The Trinamool Congress was leading in a further 1,540 panchayat seats while the BJP was leading on 417, according to the State Election Commission as of 10.30 pm on July 11.
In 2018, the Trinamool Congress won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. The polls, then, were also marred by widespread violence and bloodshed.
