KOLKATA: With just 48 hours to go for the panchayat election in West Bengal, Governor CV Ananda Bose criticises the State Election Commissioner for failing to address violence in the state.
Blaming the State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha for the rampant political violence that has gripped the state following the announcement of the panchayat election, Governor Bose said, “My constitutional appointee, you have failed in your duty.”
“If democracy is dead during this panchayat election, who is the killer? Will the state election commissioner please raise his hands?” Governor Bose questioned.
“…state machinery is under you, still why this gruesome violence, repeated violence, spiralling violence balance? Murder most foul,” the Governor added.
“Do your duty”: Governor of West Bengal C.V. Ananda Bose slams State Election Commission on Panchayat election violence. Demands accountability and accuses the commission of failing in its duty, attributing corruption to their negligence, reports @joymalabagchi pic.twitter.com/kyaTc3ptxC
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 6, 2023
Governor Bose even pulled up SEC officials and asked, “Can’t you change the errant officials? Shift them for the time being and enquire into their dereliction of duty.”
“Your right to vote is at peril. Not a joke, Mr SEC. This is reality. The murder of democracy. Murder of Human Rights. Mobocracy stifling democracy,” he added in one of the harshest assessments against the function of the West Bengal State Election Commission.
Governor Bose told the SEC that there is still time to find solutions, he had asked SEC officials to visit the ground to know the realities.
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Governor Bose firmly told the SEC to ensure that elections in the sensitive areas of Bhangor, Canning, Cooch Behar, Dinhata, Murshidabad, Purulia, Malda, Chopra, Basanti, Medinipur do not lead to a repeat of violence and bloodshed.
Significantly, Governor Bose also asked the state election commissioner to make foolproof arrangements to secure strong rooms and also provide security to poll officials at counting centres.
Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) wrote to SEC alleging Governor Bose for interfering with the election process ahead of the panchayat election.
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Reacting to reports of allegations that he is campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Governor Bose said, “So many political parties met me. TMC, BJP, Congress. I met everybody. I am a governor for all. I am not the governor of any party. I am above politics.”
Governor Bose has been at the forefront since the violence intensified in the state ahead of the key election. He visited the violence hotspots, reached out to the victims and also shared his numbers with them in case they faced any threats or violence again.
The governor opened a peace room, soon after the last violence was reported on the last date of filing nominations, where officials from Raj Bhawan will respond to public grievances.
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