Shadow of violence over panchayat polls

Sun, May 11 12:05 AM

Bengal prepared to witness the first phase of the seventh panchayat election with the shadow of Nandigram looming large and no political party willing to vouch that there would not be any violence on Sunday. CPI(M) tried its best to dismiss all charges of Red terrorism as "rumours".

Its state secretary Biman Bose asked people not to fall prey to "instigation" and maintain Bengal's "legacy in holding peaceful elections". Trinamool Congress continued to accuse the CPI(M) of terrorising its supporters and snatching their photo identity cards in Nandigram.

The administration on the other hand received kudos from the CPI(M) for stopping film maker Aparna Sen and a host of intellectuals at Howrah when they were on their way to Nandigram to witness the election as self-appointed observers. Though the Left Front government has been a role model for successfully implementing grassroots level governance since 1978, even forcing Rajiv Gandhi to move the 64th Constitutional Amendment Bill in 1989, anti-land acquisition movement at Singur and Nandigram has put the CPI(M) in a spot this year.

Even differences with its partners, the Forward Bloc and RSP, over land and industrial policies have widened to such an extent that the allies could not reach consensus over seat sharing in many districts. Even on Saturday, Bose had to admit that leaflets were being distributed in many areas as a last minute effort to avoid direct contest between Front partners.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY