By Dr. Gyan Pathak
On the eve of the second phase of West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election to be held on April 29 the situation, has become very tense, after ECI deployed an “encounter specialist”, as described by BJP as poll observer who threatened family members of a TMC candidate Jahangir Khan contesting from Falta in South 24 Parganas.
There is heavy deployment of central forces in the state, that Election Commission of India has deployed for “free and fair” election. PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Home Amit Shah have already threatened of stern action against “TMC goons” after May 4 counting of votes, and it is the end of the Mamata’s rule in the state for the last one and half decades. Mamata has all along been objecting that they can’t refer TMC’s rank and file as “goons”. It has already created considerable level of tension in the state, especially after voting for the first phase of election held on April 23.
The news tension has been created after the so called “encounter specialist” IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, who threatened the Jahangir Khan’s family members. “Make sure he understands. If there are complaints of people being threatened, we will deal with it properly. If anyone indulges in wrongdoing or tries to harass voters, we will take strict action,” he said, adding “Tell Jehangir that repeated complaints are coming that his people are threatening others. If that continues, we will take it up seriously. There should be no complaints later.”
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya backed Sharma’s actions saying “He wasted no time in setting the tone, firmly reading the riot act to the family members of Abhishek Banerjee’s close aide, Jehangir Khan”. Not only that Malviya said in his post on X, “Ajay Pal Sharma, the encounter specialist and “Singham” of UP Police, has been deployed as Police Observer in South 24 Parganas.” Malviya also said, “The message is loud and clear: the era of intimidation and impunity is over. Law and order will prevail, and those attempting to influence the electoral process will be held accountable.”
TMC has objected to the deployment of the “encounter specialist” as poll observer in the state by ECI. The party wrote on X, “Yogi Adityanath’s encounter specialist Ajay Pal Sharma has just been parachuted in by the Election Commission as police observer for South 24 Parganas. This is the same man whose badge of honour is a body count from “encounters” and whose real speciality is turning the police uniform into a personal ATM and a tool for personal vendettas.” TMC has also pointed out that he has been booked for criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, and tampering with crucial evidence.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has also objected to deployment of the “encounter specialist” as poll observer. He said, “BJP has sent their agent who was tested in Rampur and Sambhal to West Bengal in the guise of observer. …At the right time, there will be a thorough probe into the criminal activities of these ‘agents’ who are out to implement the BJP’s agenda, and strict punitive action will be taken.” He also highlighted the IPS officer’s “dark record” and “thok-do (encounter) attitude”.
These tensions are seen on the surface, but within these are the real political tensions regarding political outcome in the state, in the second phase of polls. Though PM Modi has said that first phase of election has shattered the arrogance and Ego of TMC, the second phase will ensure BJP’s win. However, it is not so on the ground. BJP has performed better in the first phase, though far behind TMC. In the second phase BJP’s performance is likely to be worse.
For the first phase, BJP had claimed to win 110 seats out of 152, and TMC had claimed to win around 132-134 seats or at least 125. Both the claims were exaggerated. Out of the 152 seats BJP had won 59 seats in the 2021 election, and there were 50 seats where BJP had never won. Though BJP had some edge in several constituencies, it is still not certain that they will actually considerably increase their tally.
BJP’s position in the second phase is much worse compared to the first phase. Out of 142 seats going to poll on April 19, BJP had won only 18 seats in 2021, while TMC had won 123 seats. This way, the electoral battle in the West Bengal will be fought now on the TMC’s favourable turf. There are 102 seats in the second phase where BJP had never won. This makes BJP most worried at this time, and the TMC, though has an edge, facing disruption by the administration led by BJP’s agents, as has been alleged. This is the real reason for tension.
Deletion of voters in large number of voters under SIR has also created tensions in both the BJP and the TMC. People are against SIR deletion more strongly than in first phase because more than double deletions have been witnessed in the constituencies in the second phase compared to the first phase. Moreover, Matua and other communities which are supporters of the BJP, were also deleted in large number which is going against BJP.
Second phase of election in West Bengal is thus being held in high tension – both politically and administratively, which is likely to be decisive. (IPA Service)
