Level of violence in West Bengal Panchayat electionsWhile shocking, it was not entirely unexpected. Overall, 36 people lost their lives Violence spread in many districts of the state for about a month before the elections; 18 people died on election day, July 8. Opposition parties had expressed apprehensions that if appropriate steps were not taken, the election would be marred by violence. Despite several interventions by the Calcutta High Court, which directed the deployment of central forces at all polling stations West Bengal State Election Commission Failed on many fronts. The State Election Commission’s decision to hold three-tier rural polls in 61,636 polling stations on a single day, its reluctance to requisition central forces and subsequent delay in requisitioning forces on the High Court’s direction proved costly. Central forces arrived late and were deployed in a disorganized manner.
Infighting in the ruling Trinamool Congress also played a major role in the violence. Moreover, in places where the opposition could put up some resistance, there was fierce fighting between the Trinamool Congress on the one hand and the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bharatiya Janata Party on the other. Trinamool Congress’s dominance on the ground, which remained undisputed for a decade, is now facing protests at many places. More than half of the people killed in the violence during the election were supporters of the ruling party. In the 2018 panchayat elections, the Trinamool Congress won around 34% of the seats without any contest; This time it was around 12%. The control of panchayats helps in controlling the political dominance and rural economy at the local level. Besides, the cadres who provide strength have a direct stake in the outcome. Elections in West Bengal are rarely peaceful and with two lakh candidates in the fray, local officials were reluctant to make any concessions. While the State Election Commission was found reluctant, the political leadership too has much to blame for allowing local body elections to become a matter of life and death. There are also structural reasons that make grassroots politics in West Bengal so competitive and violent. With high unemployment and scarce activity in the formal sector resulting in extreme competition for political positions, resulting in extraction and corruption, the state is trapped in a debilitating cycle. The violence and lawlessness that took place on Saturday should serve as a wake-up call to the political class of the state.