A fact-finding committee assembled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently submitted a critical report of the West Bengal panchayat elections to party president J P Nadda, labelling the electoral incidents as a “sickening symbol of shameful democracy”.
The BJP’s prominent leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who headed the fact-finding committee, voiced concern over the state of democracy in Bengal. “The state government’s arrogance and utter disrespect for democratic processes are dismaying,” Prasad told the press, contending that the West Bengal elections were characterised by an “overpowering fear”.
Several cases of violence, including killings, and targeted political intimidation were highlighted in the committee’s report. Prasad accused the state police, civil authorities, and a “cooperative” state election committee of facilitating this atmosphere of fear, hence the committee’s demand for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Prasad insisted that due to the alleged complicity and bias of the state police and administration, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) should examine cases involving bomb explosions, as these are scheduled offences.
Expressing his frustration and dismay, Prasad said, “What is happening, Mamata ji? This is condemnable,” referring to West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Prasad claimed the violence and property vandalism primarily targeted the deprived and backward communities. He further alleged the state’s machinery was skewed in favour of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), leading to attacks on its rivals.
Prasad confidently asserted that if the panchayat elections had been conducted fairly, the BJP would have triumphed. Despite the reported hurdles, the BJP managed to secure 11,000 gram panchayat seats, while the remaining opposition parties such as the Congress and the Left were restricted to 4,000 seats, added Prasad.
This report sets the stage for a contentious debate on the state of democracy in West Bengal, hinting at intensified political confrontations in the days to come.
