Violence in Bengal: is it a manifestation of frozen public anguish?

The office of Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, was flooded with complaints of booth-jamming and preventing the voters to cast their votes freely. From the ruling party camp, complaints were filed against the Central Armed Police Forces personnel alleging that they were trying to influence the voters to vote for a particular political party.

Kolkata: The third phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls was concluded on Tuesday with scorching summer heat in the backdrop. With the northward drive of the temperature as the day rolled on, the people of 31 Assembly constituencies that went for polls in the third phases witnessed periodic incidences of poll-related clashes and violence.

At the same time, the office of Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, was flooded with complaints of booth-jamming and preventing the voters to cast their votes freely. From the ruling party camp, complaints were filed against the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel alleging that they were trying to influence the voters to vote for a particular political party.

Arambag in Hooghly district of West Bengal, which has the ill-reputation of political clashes and violence, came to the limelight once again for the same reason. Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Arambag, Sujata Mondal Khan, who is also the wife of BJP Lok Sabha member, Saumitra Khan, complained that the CAPF personnel were threatening and influencing the voters.

That was the trigger point and what followed was a series of controversies and violence at Arambag in phases. Sujata was also attacked a number of times. She was not only chased with bamboo sticks but also received head injuries. However, she managed to escape by rushing through a paddy field. In another incident, her vehicle was smashed.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Sujata had taken charge of her husband's campaign -- he contested from the BJP -- and lambasted TMC.

However, she had a change of mind and later joined the TMC. Political experts feel the people of Arambag may not have forgotten her role in the 2019 polls, which probably resulted in a series of attacks on her on Tuesday.

Cases of violence were also reported in other pockets like Goghat, Diamond Harbour and Uluberia. The TMC candidate from Uluberia (North) was seen moving around sporting a helmet. BJP’s candidate from Goghat this time is Bishwanath Karak, an erstwhile Left legislator. These pockets had been in the limelight because of allegations against the ruling party over charges of misappropriation and corruption in the distribution of Amphan disaster relief. Many of the erstwhile TMC leaders, against whom corruption charges were levelled, are now associated with the BJP.

So, the question remains whether Tuesday’s violence was a manifestation of public grievance.