[Marxistindia] Blatant Attack on Democracy in West Bengal

[news from the cpi(m)]

April 26, 2015

 

Press Statement

 

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:

 

Blatant Attack on Democracy in West Bengal

 

The elections to 91 municipalities including two corporations in West Bengal
held on April 25, 2015 constitute a total mockery of democracy. In these and
the election to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation a week earlier, there was
a high degree of people's enthusiasm and a large number of women turned out
to cast their vote. However, these innocent people were met with political
workers and armed hooligans representing the ruling party in the state, the
Trinamool Congress, who denied them the right to a free and fair election.
Polling booths were captured, opposition parties agents driven out and
voting manipulated. A small contingent of central forces sent on the eve of
the election were not deployed by the state government and instead sent for
sightseeing. This is a blot on Indian democracy.

 

In various parts of the state there was widespread people's resistance
against such display of muscle power and manipulation of the democratic
process. Many were injured and some are critical and are admitted to various
hospitals in the state.

 

The CPI(M) calls upon the people of West Bengal who have a tradition of
fighting against such authoritarian terror and who established a record of
restoring democracy through people's struggles to resist such attacks on
democracy by the Trinamool Congress in the state.

 

A large number of intellectuals and people who had served in high
constitutional positions in the country in the past have come together to
form a Save Democracy Forum. Leading lights of the movement were also denied
their legal right to vote. 

 

The Election Commission of India must review these developments, though
these fall under the purview of the State Election Commission and the state
government. This is necessary to learn lessons and prepare for adequate
arrangements when the state assembly elections are held in 2016. 

 

 

For Central Committee Office

 

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