Violent clashes erupted on Saturday between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the upcoming panchayat polls in West Bengal.
According to the reports by Mint, The confrontation took place at the office of the Block Development Officer (BDO) in the Sahebganj district, with reports suggesting that Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nisith Pramanik, was also targeted in the incident. These fresh incidents of violence signify the persisting turmoil in West Bengal, as the state braces for the highly anticipated panchayat elections scheduled for 8 July.
In response to the escalating unrest, West Bengal Governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose visited the violence-stricken areas in the South 24 Parganas district and summoned the State Election Commissioner (SEC), Rajiva Sinha, to Raj Bhavan. Seeking an end to the violence, the Governor assured proactive and effective measures to curb the clashes. The West Bengal BJP President, Sukanta Majumdar, also held discussions with the Governor, where he divulged details about the ongoing violence and expressed satisfaction with the Governor's commitment to addressing the issue.
"Their planning is underway regarding how to make others withdraw nominations and manipulate votes... They will make all these plans," Majumdar stated when questioned about an upcoming meeting between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC leaders. This remark highlights the apprehensions surrounding potential strategies aimed at influencing the electoral process.
