31 sensitive seats go to polls in phase II in Bengal

Sporadic incidents of political violence in the districts going to polls on April 11 set the tone for second phase in Bengal’s 6-phase Assembly elections.

This round will take place at parts of Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore, East Midnapore and Burdwan, where many booths in the 31 seats are considered ‘sensitive’, calling for additional security measures.

Even though Opposition parties have been alleging atrocities by Trinamool Congress, the murder of a Trinamool booth committee president at Sabang in West Midnapore led to a battle of words between the ruling party and the Left-Congress combine.

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee held CPM’s Md Salim responsible for escalating violence even though the newly-formed coalition’s leaders deny having played any role.

Salim talked of “avenging” the deaths of CPM workers killed in last five years at campaign rallies in Birbhum on Thursday. Joydeb Jana, the slain Trinamool leader, was lynched by unknown assailants when he was returning home from a meeting on Friday night. Trinamool lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission, besides an FIR against 21 people, including local Congress candidate Manas Bhunia, a senior leader and former minister. Bhunia said, “Why would I do something like this just two days before the polls? Trinamool is trying to frame me because they know I’ll win.”

Trinamool, however, is going the whole hog with senior party MPs, Mukul Roy and Subhendu Adhikari likely to be present at Jana’s funeral procession across Sabang on Sunday.

Amid the allegations and counter-allegations, the districts going to polls on Monday include several prestige seats, with top leaders like CPM state secretary Surjya Kanata Mishra contesting from his home seat.