Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal over violence during the panchayat elections in the state on Tuesday, 15 May, saying democracy was "murdered" for narrow political interests, PTI reported.
“The way democracy was murdered... from (filing of) nominations to polling, democracy had no place,” he said.
At least 12 people died and scores of others sustained injuries in violence that broke out at several places in West Bengal, hours after voting began for panchayat polls in 20 districts on Monday, 14 May.
Addressing BJP workers at the party headquaters in Delhi following the Karnataka verdict, he said the people should think seriously about the violence in West Bengal on Monday.
Modi claimed that efforts were made to ensure that "opposition candidates are unable to file their nominations so that ruling party members are elected unopposed".
"Ballot boxes were found in a pond... innocent party workers, not only of the BJP but of other parties too, were killed," he said.
Violence was reported in Cooch Behar, Bhangar, South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad districts. Incidents of booth capturing, allegedly by TMC workers, came to light.
Various members of the CPI-M, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and other parties belonging to the Left Front staged a protest outside the State Election Commission office against the incidents on Monday.
Following which, the Ministry of Home Affairs sought a report from the West Bengal government regarding the incidents of violence during the polls.
Despite sporadic instances of violence, clashes between political groups, and booth capturing, allegedly by the TMC worker, 72.5 percent of the electorate exercised their right to vote in West Bengal panchayat elections.
(With inputs from PTI)
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