India's Election Commission curtails campaign in West Bengal after violence
India’s Election Commission cut off campaigning early in the eastern state of West Bengal after days of clashes in the final stretch of the country’s marathon elections, a drastic and unprecedented action in the world’s largest democracy.
The three-member body said in the order on Thursday that “growing incidents of disruption and violence” were creating a “fear psychosis” among voters, and ordered campaigning to cease by 10pm on Thursday, a day before it had been scheduled to end.
Normally campaigns run up to 48 hours before polls open, according to Indian law.
On Tuesday, rival political supporters fought with sticks and rocks during a rally for India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which is trying to wrest seats from Trinamool Congress, a powerful regional party that currently governs West Bengal.
Violence was also reported in the state during last Sunday’s polls.
The commission is invoking for the first time Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, which gives it superseding powers over India’s Parliament and state lawmakers to conduct free and fair elections.
“But it may not be the last in cases of repetition of lawlessness and violence,” Chandra Bhushan Kumar, a deputy election commissioner, told reporters Wednesday.
Nine parliamentary constituencies vote Sunday in the seventh and last round of India’s staggered, weeks-long national election, which has been a highly acrimonious campaign that has seen Prime Minister Narendra Modi blame opposition parties for the country’s ills.
Both Modi and Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal’s chief minister, were holding last-minute campaign events Thursday.
Comments (29) Closed
Unfortunately violence had been part of election culture of Bengal.
Good move by EC. But EC should have imposed immediate ban on election campaigning.
It is because a wrong person is chief minister of west bengal.
@B N Sharma,
No, because wrong person is the PM.
This time we can't blame Modi.
@Ali kazmi, : Solve your internal issues first.
@Surya Kant ,
Violence is a part of election culture of RSS.
@Ali kazmi, Seems like , you know RSS more than we do
The BJP is fighting elections in rest of the states. Why violence is happening in West Bengal only.
We have a EC which is absolutely functional. And we conduct election not selection.
There is no violence in other states, run by BJP.
Both, Narendra Modi and Mamta Banerjee chose to stay single and work in public service. Both of them are in their 60s now.
Modi looks so energetic and enthusiastic.
Mamta looks angry and sad,
like her whole life has now gone by, and she has nothing to hold onto in her golden years.
Who ever drafted the EC Act in India must be praised. I have no complaint in their decision to act with out any prejudice
@SM, "Why violence is happening in West Bengal only."
Do you think you should be posing this question to us??
West Bengal should be independent like Bangladesh.
@B N Sharma, It is because wrong man is Prime Minister.
Amazed by interest in Pakistan with Indian elections. Guess Modi gave lot of pain so people and all are rooting for his ouster.
@Arzal, "Who ever drafted the EC Act in India must be praised."
You guys pat your back on everything but never condemn any wrong on india. Symptoms of rising hyper-nationalism and fragile self-esteem.
@Zak, from where you get so much negativity?
@Zak, on what basis wiseman
@bhaRAT©, For all your exceptional knowledge and goodwill, we felt you would know.
Just a reminder, this state has a population of 28% of certain community.
@bhujang patil, where does this come from? What has it got anything to do with what's at hand
@SM,
It's because the Bjp is desperate to make inroads in west bengal this time, just to compensate(a bit) its expected losses in hindi heartland states. Bengali is vigorously retalliating with a 82% casting rate. Tripura has been the only place wich crossed 80% voting mark, else west bengal in 2019 elections.
@Ali kazmi, No, its Congress who brought religious conflicts.
@bhaRAT©, Because you sem to be more interested in Indian election. This must be 50th article on Dawn.
@Umesh,
Even someone's inane comment you end up defending as long as he is one of yours. Fragile self-esteem!
@Mohit, It was an observation, that very well points toward the most probable culprit behind WB violence. Sorry, you couldn't connect the dots.
@Ali kazmi, Pls look at history of political violence in Bengal in the past 200 years. You will find your answer.