Voting begins for Panchayat polls amid heightened security

West Bengal Panchayat polls. PTI

Following a violence-ridden nomination filing process, voting for the Panchayat polls began in West Bengal amid heightened security.

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As many as 5.67 crore voters are expected to exercise their right to franchise in the state today between 7 am to 5 pm. There are nearly 928 seats in 22 zilla parishads and 63,229 gram panchayats seats.

The elections will be held in one phase with more than 2,00,000 candidates contesting the polls. The crucial polls will prove to be a litmus test for various parties for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The state has witnessed widespread violence since the election date was announced last month and as a result, the death toll has climbed to 19.

Three major political parties — Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian Secular Front — are engaged in a fierce battle to control the local administration in West Bengal.

Violence continued in the state even before polling began with a house in Murshidabad vandalized leading to the death of a man hours before voting. While a polling booth in Cooch Behar district was ransacked and set on fire.

With the state administration downplaying the prevailing state of affairs in Bengal ahead of the rural polls, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said it was ‘depressing’ that people across the state were living in fear.

“It is unfortunate that people in those areas (hit by violence) are in a state of fear. But now the important thing is tomorrow’s election. I think the permanent solution, be it violence or corruption, is black ink on the index finger. That is the symbol of the strength of a common man,” he said.

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