Instances of sporadic violence in West Bengal, where elections are still underway, has cast a shadow over the Election Commission’s ability to conduct free and fair polls. In a state where political parties have historically displayed uncontrolled application of force with all its bloody consequences, this is alarming.
Thousands of complaints have – so far, four of the six-phase polling have been conducted in the heat and dust of this grueling summer – been submitted to the EC by opposition parties. Admittedly, some of these complaints are frivolous while a bulk of them reflected genuine concern over the ruling Trinamool Congress’ predatory tactics to beat the opposition out of the electoral contest.
When Bihar, once the biggest problem child among India’s states, went to the polls in October-November last year, the EC’s organisation and management of elections there was flawless to a fault. When Assam’s two-phased assembly polls (April 4 and 11) could be conducted with a fair degree of institutional control, including commendable security measures, Bengal’s case is at once bewildering and questionable.