People paying with lives for exercising franchise, will visit violence-hit areas: WB Guv

Clashes were reported from several places in Bengal following the declaration of assembly election results on May 2

Within minutes after administering oath to Ministers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday slammed the state government over post-poll violence, announcing that he will soon visit the violence-hit areas.

Speaking to reporters at Raj Bhavan, the Governor said that the situation in the state is as such that people are paying with their lives for exercising their franchise.

“The current situation in the state with regard to post-poll violence is alarming. I will soon be visiting violence-hit areas in the state,” said Dhankhar.

He also said that if voting becomes the cause of someone’s death then it signals the end of democracy. Dhankhar further alleged that he was yet to receive any response from the state government regarding his request to make arrangements for his trip to violence-hit areas in Bengal.

Read | A history of violence: Making sense of political rage in Kerala and West Bengal

“If voting becomes the cause of someone’s death, then it is a signal for the death of democracy,” said Dhankhar.

Taking a veiled dig at the newly sworn-in CM, the Governor stated in a tweet that they should take steps to ensure “return to normalcy.”

“On the advice of Chief Minister @MamataOfficial and in accordance with Article 164 of the Constitution I have made allocation of portfolios to all the ministers including CM. Expect team now to work in overdrive for public welfare and take steps for return to normalcy,” tweeted Dhankhar.

Earlier he stated that he was “disgusted” with the stand of the state administration as two of its top officials the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police came to brief him on the law and order situation in the state without any report.

Last week, CM Mamata Banerjee said that till May 3, 16 people have died in Bengal in post-poll violence.