Bengal panchayat elections: Re-poll in 573 booths today, SEC says only 6 died in violence

Opposition parties alleged before the SEC on Tuesday that at least 20 people were killed on Monday and demanded re-poll in thousands of booths.

Even as violence continued in pockets of Bengal, the state election commission (SEC) on Tuesday evening ordered re-poll in 573 booths spread across 19 out of 20 districts where panchayat elections took place on Monday. The re-poll will be held on Wednesday.

A security guard stands in front of a strong room after the panchayat poll at Nadia district in West Bengal on Tuesday.(PTI Photo)

While leaving his office late on Tuesday evening, Bengal’s chief election commissioner A K Singh broke his silence on Monday’s deaths that, according to political parties, stood at not less than 20. “According to official police records only six people died during polling. Four other deaths were not related to election. The deaths reported after polling are being investigated.” said Singh.

Asked whether he was satisfied with security arrangements made on Monday, Singh said, “Why ask now?”

Asked whether he was satisfied with security arrangements planned for the re-poll, he said, “What’s the point in telling now?”

Singh’s replies drew sharp criticism from opposition parties. “The chief election commissioner is acting like a stooge of the state government and not like a constitutional authority,” alleged BJP state general secretary Raju Banerjee.

Jhargram is the only district where polling was not ordered till late Tuesday evening. With 73 booths going to the polls again, North Dinajpur district in north Bengal topped the least while Alipurduar was at the bottom with only two booths.

Since 34 per cent seats spread across gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zilla parishad was won by ruling Trinamool Congress without contest, polling was held in 47,100 booths in the state on Monday.

Never before had re-poll been ordered in close to 600 booths in Bengal in the past, said SEC officials. Opposition parties however found no solace in this.

“It is also a fact that never before had election been turned into a complete farce. Television footages of policemen watching Trinamool goons carrying away ballot boxes or casting false votes stand as proof. Democracy was killed,” alleged CPI(M) politburo member and Lok Sabha MP, Md Salim.

Opposition parties alleged before the SEC on Tuesday that at least 20 people were killed on Monday and demanded re-poll in thousands of booths.

CPI(M) claimed 22 people died on Monday while Congress put the figure at 21. BJP leaders claimed 17 of their supporters were killed on Monday. Incidentally, 17 people died in the run-up to the polls.

“I came to inform SEC about Monday’s violence. Free and fair election did not take place. Even I could not cast my vote,” said Entajul, an independent candidate from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district where farmers opposed to a power sub-station have put up resistance against land acquisition by the government. The land agitators, who contested nine seats as independent candidates, were unhappy after SEC did not order re-poll in even one out of the five booths where they demand it.

At least six more people died between Monday night and Tuesday afternoon in poll-related violence across Bengal. Of them, three succumbed to injuries sustained on Monday. Though political parties and local media reported these deaths the government remained silent.

Post-poll clashes continued in several places including Gopiballavpur in Jhargarm district and Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district.

Bakul Barik and Jata Maikap died on Monday night when some crude bombs that they were allegedly stockpiling went off at Arjunnagar village in East Midnapore district. Somnath Roy, a local BJP leader, alleged that both were goons working for Trinamool Congress. Trinamool leaders denied the charge.