Author:
Publication: The Statesman
Date: April 13, 2003
Opp must be allowed to file poll
papers: CM
[Note from Hindu Vivek Kendra:
Such rebuke are for the consumption of the secular media, since they do
not have any impact at the ground level. If the CM is sincere, he
would take action against those who prevented the opposition from filing
papaers.]
In an unprecedented gesture, Mr
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has delivered what amounts to a sharp rebuke to
his party bosses by officially condemning acts of the CPI-M to prevent
Opposition parties from filing their nomination papers for the panchayat
polls. This comes on the heels of state secretary CPI-M Mr Anil Biswas
insisting that "such allegations (by the Opposition) are baseless... nobody
is being prevented from filing nominations."
And the chief ministerial rap on
the knuckles for the party has come in writing - unheard of during his
predecessor's regime. What's more, sources close to the chief minister
said, he seems to have risen above party interests and sent a not-so-veiled
message to Alimuddin Street. His comrades there also need to exercise restraint
while reacting to Opposition allegations that their candidates were being
threatened and prevented from filing their nomination papers.
The chief minister's written statement
goes like this: "I have received complaints that candidates of Opposition
parties are not being able to file their nomination papers in some seats
and areas. We never support incidents and acts of this nature. I appeal
to Left workers to ensure that such incidents do not occur, no matter what
the situation is. I have cautioned the police and administration and told
them that they will have to intervene in such cases. In the interest of
free and fair polls, meaning in the interest of democracy, this is absolutely
necessary".
While Miss Mamata Banerjee today
described the chief minister's official statement as a "hoax" - "with only
a day left for the filing of nominations, the chief minister's statement
rings hollow", Mr Anil Biswas affected a combination of stout denial and
bluster in response to what is being widely seen as an attempt by the chief
minister to show him and the other denizens of Alimuddin Street their place.
"The chief minister had taken the right step... there isn't any confusion
about his role. Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has shown that he is a democratic
chief minister. He responded to allegations of the Opposition. However,
we don't have any information about Opposition candidates being prevented
from filing their nomination papers," Mr Biswas said. As for Left Front
unity with regard to seat-sharing, Mr Biswas said that the CPI-M will fight
on its own in areas where talks have failed.
The most interesting response to
the chief minister's stand has come from the LF's junior partners, who
welcomed his gesture, saying he had done the right thing as this would
help strengthen democracy in the state.
Mr Ashok Ghosh, Forward Bloc general
secretary, was all praise for the chief minister. "I believe, the LF should
also make a similar appeal. Let the people decide who should win the polls.
One shouldn't prevent Opposition candidates from filing nomination papers,"
Mr Ghosh said. Same was Mr Debabrata Bandopadhyay's reaction. The RSP secretary
said the chief minister had taken a bold step. "I welcome it. There shouldn't
be any muscle-flexing. Buddhababu has taken the right step," he said. Mr
Manjukumar Majumdar, CPI secretary, too agreed with the RSP secretary but
he condemned similar acts by Opposition parties against the CPI. "We want
the Opposition to field candidates. But they should also respond well and
cooperate with us to maintain law and order," he said. Today's written
statement appears to be an official endorsement of the perception in political
circles that the chief minister wouldn't allow the administration to be
taken over by CPI-M cadres and the mandarins at Alimuddin Street.
The West Bengal State Election Commission
in a press release issued today stressed that it "continues, and will continue
to play its constitutional role without favour and bias... in the conduct
of the panchayat polls."