ELECTIONS to six
municipal bodies in West Bengal, which was marked by terror, reflected
signs of discontent against the TMC government.
It was particularly manifest in Left Front’s win
in Haldia in East Midnapore district. It was here that the anti-Left
Front anarchy reached its crescendo since the days of Nandigram. Trinamool
Congress wrested East Midnapore district council in 2008, won the
parliamentary seats in 2009 and all assembly constituencies of the district in
2011. Right from 2009, incessant attacks have been launched against CPI(M) in
Haldia. After 2011, the trade unions in this industrial and port town were made
a special target. CPI(M) offices were destroyed or captured, hundreds of
workers were chased away from their workplaces. The reign of terror was led by
TMC Lok Sabha member Subhendu Adhikary who proclaimed that there would be no
one in Haldia to hold Red flags. Frontline CPI(M) leaders were jailed under
false cases.
During the elections to the municipal body,
CPI(M) and Left Front could not conduct peaceful campaign even for a single
day. Candidates were threatened with dire consequences, their families
attacked. As Congress had no alliance with TMC, their candidates and potential
candidates were also attacked. Congress candidates had to withdraw nomination
after their family members were kidnapped. Left Front conducted determined,
door-to-door campaign. Even on the day of elections, TMC hoodlums raided
different areas to threaten people, though they faced resistance from the
poorer sections.
The people of Haldia rebuffed the TMC and the
Left Front retained the municipality with a 15-11 margin. Out of these, 14 were
won by CPI(M) and 1 by CPI. In three wards, Left Front candidates were defeated
narrowly, with margins of 40 to 52 votes only. Left Front chairman
Biman Basu congratulated the people of Haldia and said that they have silently
rejected the politics of terror.
The dejection of the TMC with the defeat in
Haldia was very much evident. Immediately after the results were declared, TMC
activists attacked the car of Tamalika Panda Seth, CPI(M) leader and outgoing
chairperson of the municipal body. CPI(M) activists were attacked in different
places. CPI(M) local committee office in Haldia was ransacked.
In nine wards of Durgapur Municipal Corporation,
TMC went into full-scale terrorisation. CPI(M) booth camps were
attacked. In many wards, TMC activists entered into booths and took control of
EVMs. CPI(M) polling agents were not allowed to enter. Booth capturing took
place in many wards. TMC activists started terrorising the people from the
night before. They threatened voters not to come out of houses, particularly in
areas where Left has a strong presence. In some wards, police helped TMC and
chased away voters from the queue. Practically, Durgapur witnessed a
serious attack on the democratic rights of the people.
The Left Front has demanded repoll in 29 booths
in Durgapur where CPI(M) polling agents were chased away and voters
were dispersed by TMC anti-socials brought from outside the city. TMC won this
corporation with 29 seats while Left Front won in 11 seats. The Congress and
BJP won a seat each, while an independent won a seat.
In Panshkura, the atmosphere was vitiated. There
also Left Front cadre and even Congress cadre were not allowed to campaign
freely. TMC threatened to ‘whitewash’ the opposition. TMC retained the
municipality winning 12 seats while Left Front bagged 5. CPI(M) won 3
seats while CPI bagged 2. TMC’s outgoing chairman was defeated by CPI
candidate. Congress failed to get any seat here.
Another setback to the TMC occurred in Congress’
hand at Coopers Camp when the latter won 11seats out of 12. Congress maintained
their hold on the notified area body despite all out aggressive campaign
against them by their partner in the state government. Top leaders of the both
the parties were engaged in bitter exchange in Coopers Camp as well as in Nalhati
in Birbhum district. TMC retained this board with thin margin, winning 8 seats
while Left Front won 3, Congress 3 and BJP 1. Here too TMC’s outgoing chairman
was defeated in two seats despite every attempt to get him through. In a ward,
Left Front candidate was even arrested the night before the voting day and was
freed on bail only in the next afternoon that too after a rebuff from court.
Widespread discontent was reflected in Nalhati.
Left Front suffered defeat in Dhupguri in
Jalpaiguri district. Election process was more or less peaceful here. But TMC
took no chance and just before the elections they admitted Kamtapur Peoples’
Party leader Mitali Roy in their fold. KPP is a secessionist party demanding
separate Kamtapur state for quite long time. TMC won 11 and Left Front 4 seats
while BJP won in a ward.
Biman Basu alleged that in many areas of these
six municipalities, people were terrorised and normal democratic atmosphere was
lacking. TMC unleashed violence before and even after the declaration of
results. This was an ominous sign for civil rights in the state.
Suryakanta Misra, leader of opposition, termed
the entire results as ‘Yellow card’, a warning to TMC and its government. “If
they do not mend their ways, people will show them Red card in the future”,
said Misra. He also alleged that the ruling party has started fearing people
within a year of assuming power. This is the reason behind their terror tactics
in civic elections.
courtesy :
People’s Democracy
10th June, 2012
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