KOLKATA: West Bengal’s Bhangar continues to remain tense amidst reports of clashes between supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on the sixth and penultimate day of filing nominations for the scheduled panchayat election.
While prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, have been issued, violations of the orders are reported from outside the Block Development Officer’s (BDO) office on Basanti Highway, where a large gathering of people has been seen.
Amid a political blame game between the two parties for the ongoing violence, there are reports of bombs and glass bottles being hurled. Incidents of violence are also reported on the way to the BDO office.
ISF’s Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddiqui and TMC’s Canning Purba MLA Saokat Molla blamed each other for the ongoing violence ahead of the panchayat election next month.
Anticipating violence, in a state that has a long history of poll-related incidents, the state election commission mandated the issuance of Section 144 orders at the nomination centres on the day of the announcement.
Meanwhile, the town of Canning also experienced violent clashes between two factions within the TMC, where bombs and bricks were hurled. Although the situation has been brought slightly under control, police patrolling remains in force throughout the area to maintain order.
A glimpse of democracy in West Bengal where TMC goons are not even allowing filing of nominations.
These visuals are from the inside BDO office in Canning, Joynagar. Violence is taking places across WB. @ECISVEEP may kindly take cognisance of this.
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) June 14, 2023
Expressing his frustration, Sukanta Majumdar, the state president of the main opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Bengal and MP, said, “It is impossible to go and file a nomination. I could not see any police here. This situation is pathetic.”
Majumdar staged a dharna (protest) inside the SDO Office in Basirhat, with the BJP announcing that the protest will continue until nominations can be filed.
DEMOCRACY in India 🇮🇳#Mamta & her Troops :- What is This !!? 😅
There is no ethics, administration, Constitutional Value, Constitution Rights & Democracy in West Bengal under the Govt of @AITCofficial. @amitmalviya@abpanandatv @Tv9_Bangla @BanglaRepublic @News18Bengali
— Saumitra khan (@KhanSaumitra) June 14, 2023
BJP’s Lok Sabha MP Saumitra Khan expressed his discontent with the prevailing situation in West Bengal, tweeted, “Mamta & her Troops:- What is This !!? There is no ethics, administration, Constitutional Value, Constitution Rights & Democracy in West Bengal under the Govt of @AITCofficial.”
Responding to the escalating violence, the Calcutta High Court has ordered the deployment of central forces in seven sensitive districts, particularly in areas where there is a shortage of police personnel due to the elections. However, the court refrained from interfering with the nomination time limit.
The West Bengal panchayat system consists of three tiers – gram panchayat, panchayat samiti, and zila parishad. The state has a total of 3,317 gram panchayats and 928 seats across 22 Zilla Parishads.
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