Author:
Publication: The Statesman
Date: June 6, 2005
URL: http://thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=13&theme=&usrsess=1&id=79209
THE ISSUE:
Can elections in West Bengal ever
be free and fair in view of what happened in the 22 May poll?
By hook or by crook, politicians
want a permanent berth in the corridors of power. Elections are the most
important tool to achieve that goal. The CPI-M-led Left Front in West Bengal
has, by virtue of its long presence in the hot seat, been able to sharpen
this tool to near perfection. It will be difficult to free the election
machinery from its clutches.
PRATYUSH MAZUMDER,
30 May, Kolkata.
Police, electoral officers must
get tough
Whether the future elections in
West Bengal will be free and fair depends upon the state government and
the Election Commission. The latter should not only ensure that every voter
is provided with identity cards, it should also be on its guard on polling
day. The presiding officers ought to be directed to prevent those without
identity cards from exercising their franchise. Polling booths must have
adequate security personnel, else, it will not be possible for the presiding
officers to act tough and risk their lives. Police have to be ordered to
keep criminals, irrespective of their political affiliations, at bay. But
if the CPI-M-led Front continues to dominate the poll process, the police
will remain a mute spectator, instead of acting as a watch dog.
KAJAL CHATTERJEE,
30 May, 24 Parganas (N).
Sorry, can't be free and fair
On 23 May, some of this newspaper's
headlines read: "Booth-jammers at work... cops look the other way," "Violence
mars civic polls," "CPI-M man killed in bomb blast" and so on. Sorry, there
can't be free and fair elections in West Bengal, despite the state government's
assurances.
PRANTIK SANYAL,
31 May, Kolkata.
All the same
Free and fair elections in West
Bengal cannot be expected because the system adopted by most parties in
their strongholds are similar. During the early stages, observers find
everything going smoothly - voters standing in queue, police patrolling
the area, party agents doing their jobs. Responsible voters cast their
votes early. The first few hours witness free and fair polls in most of
the polling booths or polling stations. The situation deteriorates later
in the day. The weaker party agents usually leave the booth. Gradually,
the stronger party dominates with its machinery in place till the ballot
boxes are handed over to the competent authority. It is during this interregnum
that rigging is done and false votes cast.
NIMAI CHANDRA DAS,
30 May, Howrah.
Another cake-walk
The CPI-M's election machinery
began operating from the moment the municipal polls started on 22 May,
ably assisted by a police force looking the other way as cadres employed
well-planned rigging from North Barrackpore to Barasat, Titagharh to Bhatpara
and Garulia. Peaceful polling amidst allegations of large-scale organised
rigging marked elections to 79 municipalities. Booths were jammed and false
votes cast in the presence of policemen and electoral representatives.
What is alarming is the thought
that the Marxists find nothing wrong in it. If there is anything to be
concerned about, according to CPI-M state secretary, Anil Biswas, it is
that his party's workers are at the receiving end. Credibility is not a
strong point with him. So he dismisses irregularities, if any, during the
voting as of no consequence. He said this when thousands of panchayat seats
went uncontested in May 2003 for fear of assault from Marxist cadres.
The administration is with the ruling
party, making it difficult to expect free and fair elections in the state.
With the Trinamul Congress a divided house and the Congress and the Marxists
being allies at the Centre, it raises serious doubts about whether any
real political resistance is possible.
ARUN KUMAR BHADURI,
31 May, Kolkata.
Rigging not the whole truth
Trinamul and the Congress always
complain that elections in West Bengal will never be fair as long as the
CPI-M is in power. But the Opposition also rigs elections where they have
sufficient strength. The CPI-M adopts unfair means where it can. The common
practice is that the party or parties which are defeated in elections bring
the charges of rigging. Allegations of rigging cannot be the whole truth.
Rigging, although not desirable, may happen in certain places, not everywhere.
KALIPADA BASU,
30 May, Chinsurah.
Dress rehearsal for 19 June
It did not need experts to predict
that the CPI-M would sweep the first phase of civic polls for the 79 municipalities
in West Bengal. The Opposition was to be predictably routed because of
sharp divisions within its ranks. The Opposition's failure to come together
made rigging easier. The Left cadres put up a show of might and made "all-out"
efforts to wrest the municipalities. Trinamul and the rest of the Opposition
seems determined to hand over Kolkata and the Salt Lake civic bodies to
the Marxists during the 19 June poll.
Prospect of losing power in a free
and fair election had the cadres rigging polls in unit after unit by driving
out Opposition agents, beating presiding officers and threatening voters
to stay indoors. Journalists' cameras were smashed and they were injured.
The 22 May polls were a dress rehearsal for the 19 June polls.
ARUN KUMAR DAS,
2 June, Kolkata.
Organised Red terror
Intimidation, rigging, booth capturing,
proxy votes - this is what elections in the state is all about. In Panskura
and Garbeta, thousands of Opposition supporters were driven out of their
villages by CPI-M cadres. Before every election, villagers are warned against
casting their vote for the Opposition party. Red terror is organised in
the state. During the previous panchayat elections, many Opposition candidates
could not even submit their nominations for fear of CPI-M goons. During
the 22 May polls, too, rigging, booth capturing, beating of Opposition
agents, bombing and voter intimidation were common. Unless the Opposition
is united, this will continue.
MIHIR KANUNGO,
2 June, Kolkata.
Electoral process subverted
Article 326 of the Constitution
guarantee the right of the citizens to change the political power through
elections. Empirical studies of democracy bear out that the robustness
of democratic institutions depends on successful holding of elections and
citizens' active and enthusiastic participation. Three distinct and interrelated
factors emerge - extent of political participation, voters' expectation
and faith in the system. In West Bengal, the Marxists have successfully
eroded the citizens' faith in the elections. Large-scale rigging, an unholy
nexus of CPI-M cadres-police and government employees on election duty
(active and motivated members of the co-ordination committee ) have made
a mockery of elections.
ASOK KUMAR BHATTACHARYA,
3 June, Kolkata.
