By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: While questioning the ‘studied silence’ maintained by Congress and other Opposition Parties, BJP National Vice President and in charge for Assam and Delhi, Baijayant Jay Panda on Saturday sought intervention of Election Commission of India into the organised violence in West Bengal Panchayat polls.
The voting for the crucial West Bengal Panchayat elections has started amid tight security arrangements amid concerns of widespread violence. Several incidents of violence and arson were reported after the process of nomination began in the state on Saturday.
Near about 9 people have been killed in West Bengal Panchayat poll votes , which serves as a litmus test for the 2024 parliamentary elections and could redesign the State’s political background.
The senior BJP Leader from Odisha, Jay Panda, a former 4th times MP, while coming down heavily on Opposition Parties for their silence on Mamata Banerjee’s misrule and mayhem, urged ECI to take swift measures to reinstate the sanctity of electoral system.
“The hushed silence from the ecosystem that proclaims democracy’s demise in India conveniently overlooks the disturbing spectacles of TMC’s thuggery and the brazen electoral deceit during West Bengal’s Panchayat elections.Swift measures need to be undertaken by @ECISVEEP to reinstate the sanctity of our electoral system. The inviolability of our democracy is an absolute imperative,” the BJP National VP said in a tweet.
Some 5.67 crore people are eligible to vote to choose representatives for nearly 928 seats across 22 zilla parishads, 9,730 panchayat samitis, and 63,229 gram panchayats seats.
For the first time, the Raj Bhavan played an active role in addressing the issue of poll violence, with Governor CV Ananda Bose opening a “Peace Home” at his official residence to address complaints of people.
