Fear of political violence, especially post-poll violence, after the polls, dominates the elections on the ground in West Bengal. It is not about the electoral bonds, or ED/CBI arrests, not even the assault on women, or corruption, but the anxiety of being intimidated, abducted or attacked rules the roost across the rural constituencies in the state.
It is not only the heat or fatigue that have contributed to a drop in polling percentage in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections. It is also the fear that prevents many from venturing out to cast their vote.
News18 travelled extensively across constituencies and districts, and found that the rural electorate was most concerned about intimidation, suffering injuries or being killed. Since the first phase of election, the state has witnessed a seizure of a large cache of arms from a Trinamool Congress leader’s house in Sandeshkhali, a bomb blast at a BJP leader’s house in Hingalganj, clashes on polling day leading to injured voters while senior politicians have been attacked while campaigning.
Political violence is routine in the state, but there is a feeling of exhaustion that seems to have set in. In 2021, according to reports, 40 TMC and BJP cadres were killed in violent clashes. The Calcutta High Court had directed the CBI to probe the alleged killings, following which it registered 52 cases that are still being investigated.
The memory is still fresh.
Does violence force a voter’s behaviour to change?
The behavioural pattern of voters has changed. “I am a TMC worker. My family, my neighbours, the entire village, we all support Didi for the schemes she has implemented, for the security she has given to us. But, why do local leaders always torture us? I am not even talking about demanding ‘cut money’ (extortion) for government schemes. I am talking about the humiliation in every election,” said Meher Biwi, a resident of Gobindapur village in Palashi under Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency.
“Local leaders come and tell us on polling day that we do not need to go to the polling booth, and our votes will be cast. Why is that so? We tell them that we are their supporters, we want to vote for Didi, but they tell us not to worry about our votes, and that they will take care of everything. This is disgusting,” she added.
Rafika Biwi, who lives in Tehatta that is 35 km from Palashi, expressed a similar concern. “Didi has given us Lakshmir Bhandar, which gives us Rs 500 financial assistance every month. We are Didi’s voters, but over the past six elections, including the panchayat, I voted only twice. They (local leaders) asked us not to come out of our houses. We are scared of violence,” she said.
There is much resentment among village residents as they see that the same mercenaries, who once allegedly worked for the CPM, have migrated to the TMC after 2011. And, they are now allegedly being bought by the BJP.
A BJP worker in Murshidabad’s Beldanga, Samir Mondal said he changed from the Congress to the saffron party thinking it will act to curb violence in the state. “I thought that the mercenaries will be brought under control. The party will act against violence and protect the voters. But, a section of mercenaries who worked for the TMC has now joined the BJP. What changed then? We are seeing all those goondas of the TMC joining the BJP and getting a ticket to contest. It remains the same for us. There is no point fighting and casting your vote here,” he said.
“To fight elections in Bengal, a party needs to have a group of mercenaries; not for indulging in violence but for resistance. Our workers cannot be beaten up and bruised the way it used to be. We need to stop them,” a senior BJP leader told News18.
The TMC, however, has alleged that the violence is an outcome of public rage as they were tortured by the BJP and the central forces.
What lingers? Terror and trauma
With two phases done, there are five more left. Even as senior politicians of Bengal – across parties, including the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP – are bringing up different issues during their campaign to woo voters, the most emotive issue that strongly resonates on the ground is nothing but the fear of violence.
As the elections inch closer to the southern parts of the state, the situation seems to be worsening. This is a usual pattern during the polls. Despite the Election Commission of India allotting more than 900 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF) in the state – the highest deployment in the country – reports of sporadic violence and intimidation continue to pour in ahead of the third phase.
The state has at least 80,000 polling booths and with polling in seven phases, the poll body can cover almost all areas with central forces. But, the primary concern among voters is the post-poll situation when the forces will leave.
Bappa Mondal, a resident of Lalbagh in Murshidabad, recounted how he saw his friend being dragged out of his home and beaten up after the elections in 2021. “This whole village was almost aligned to the TMC, but my friend has always been a Congress supporter. After the elections, he was intimidated, dragged out of his house and beaten up,” he said.
He added: “I am a TMC worker and I tried to stop them, but they said he should be taught a lesson. I will never forget that day. I have almost dissociated myself from political parties since. My friend now works as a labourer in Tamil Nadu.”
During the 2023 panchayat elections, there was a spate of violence while government sources said at least 48 people were killed. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing the media, had said at least 19 people were killed. Accusing the BJP of violence, she had said only 60 out of 70,000 booths witnessed violent incidents, adding that her government will grant Rs 2 lakh compensation for those who have been killed.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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