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Bengal Panchayat Poll Violence: TMC’s Concerns of a 2019-like Blowback!!

Divya Bhatia

West Bengal violence

The recent panchayat elections in West Bengal have been marred by violence, raising concerns for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) about a potential electoral blowback similar to what occurred in 2019.

This article examines the violence in the 2018 panchayat elections, the recurrence of violence in the current elections, and its potential impact on the TMC’s prospects in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Violence in the 2018 Panchayat Elections

During the panchayat elections in 2018, West Bengal witnessed widespread violence. The TMC managed to win 34% of the seats unopposed, indicating a lack of opposition in several areas. However, this victory was overshadowed by the violence that accompanied the election process.

Mamata Banerjee-led Party’s Electoral Losses

The violence in the 2018 panchayat elections had severe consequences for the TMC. In the subsequent Lok Sabha polls in 2019, the party’s tally plummeted from 34 seats to 22. This decline in seats allowed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to emerge as the primary opposition party in West Bengal.

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BJP’s Rise as the Primary Opposition Party

The BJP’s strong performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls signaled a significant shift in West Bengal’s political landscape. With the TMC’s declining fortunes, the BJP established itself as a formidable force and increased its presence in the state.

Recurrence of Violence in the Current Panchayat Elections

Death Toll and Allegations of Electoral Malpractices: In a disheartening repetition of events, the current panchayat elections have witnessed at least 13 deaths in West Bengal.

Additionally, allegations of electoral malpractices have been raised, further fueling tensions between the ruling party and the opposition. Both sides have been quick to blame each other for the violence.

Blame Game between the Ruling Party and the Opposition

While the exact responsibility for the violence remains uncertain, the ruling TMC is likely to be concerned due to the repercussions it faced after the 2018 violence. Memories of the impact on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls could weigh heavily on the party’s strategy in dealing with the current situation.

Concerns for the Ruling Party Due to Past Experience

During the previous panchayat elections, a significant portion of seats went uncontested, denying a large number of rural voters their right to vote. This led to widespread anger against the TMC in the subsequent Lok Sabha polls.

The ruling party is now worried about a similar sentiment brewing among the rural electorate, potentially affecting its electoral prospects.

Impact on the Lok Sabha Polls

Seats Left Uncontested and Rural Voters’ Disenfranchisement: In the previous panchayat elections, more than a third of the seats were uncontested, severely limiting voters’ choices.

West Bengal violence

The disenfranchisement of rural voters contributed to the groundswell of anger against the TMC in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The party is keen to avoid a repeat of this situation.

TMC’s Public Outreach Program after 2019 Results: Recognizing the impact of the 2019 results, the TMC launched a major public outreach program in preparation for the subsequent Assembly elections.

The party managed to secure victory comfortably but faced significant challenges when post-election violence erupted, tarnishing the state’s image.

Post-Election Violence and Calcutta High Court’s Intervention

Following the 2021 Assembly elections, large-scale violence broke out, with BJP workers and their families being targeted and forced to flee their homes. This led to a decline in the state’s reputation, prompting the Calcutta High Court to order a CBI probe into the incidents. Reports of murder, rape, and clashes were rampant, further complicating the political landscape.

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TMC’s Efforts to Ensure Free and Fair Elections

Abhishek Banerjee’s Appeal to Party Workers: To demonstrate the party’s commitment to conducting a free and fair election, Abhishek Banerjee, a prominent TMC leader, personally appealed to party workers.

He urged them to ensure that the elections were conducted without any hindrance, even encouraging assistance to opposition candidates facing challenges in filing their nomination papers.

Limited Impact and Ongoing Violence: Despite the TMC leadership’s appeal, the desired effect seems to be lacking both within the party and outside. The run-up to the elections witnessed over 15 deaths related to poll violence, with at least 12 fatalities occurring on election day itself.

Violence spread across various districts of the state, indicating an escalation of tensions:

Implications for the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

The recent wave of violence, coupled with the TMC’s existing challenges, including multiple corruption charges and arrests of its leaders, presents a daunting situation for the ruling party. It must navigate these obstacles while trying to regain its electoral footing.

The BJP has criticized the State Election Commission for its alleged failure to conduct the elections in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. The party’s leader of opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, called the incidents a “murder of democracy” and demanded the cancellation of the entire election.

Conclusion

The recurring violence in the Bengal panchayat polls has raised concerns for the TMC, reminiscent of the electoral blowback it faced in 2019. The party must address these challenges while simultaneously grappling with corruption charges and arrests of its leaders.

The BJP continues to criticize the TMC, calling for the cancellation of the election. The outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will provide insights into the impact of these recent events on the TMC’s electoral prospects.

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