I was young when I read Dr. Jekyll and Hyde. The story made such a deep impression that I could witness the evil Hyde appearing time and again around us, certainly, when any elections are held. They could be college elections, panchayat elections, municipal elections, assembly, or parliamentary elections. We transform from the goody-goody Dr. Jekyll to the evil Hyde in no time, baring our fangs.
Yesterday, the day of Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections were no different. Bengal forgot its past glory; Bengal dumped its educated and intellectual image of Dr. Jekyll. But, it was no holds barred, as politically opposed party supporters hurled bombs, brickbats were freely used, as were guns in some cases. For a few, the status quo of the KMC had to be maintained. Any small wedge they could drive in the ruling party was worthy for the opponents.
Every action of Mamata Banerjee is keenly watched all over India after throwing her hat into the ring for 2024 prime ministerial ambitions. The police, as anyone could see, was loyal to the core to their political bosses, rounding up opponents, considered traitors or criminals. One thing is for sure, the ruling party and the police unwittingly have given a long rope to the opposition, and the protests may not end easily.
It was the fault of the State election Commission, which was overconfident that the election must be held under the state police. In a federal system, where law and order come under the state’s control, they were only technically right. The partisan attitude of the State police force was neither a surprise nor a shocker. The next was the courts, who seemed oblivious of the need to hold elections transparent and non-partisan. The court would have nothing to do with such trivialities. They repeatedly disregarded prayers for the presence of Central forces. Both the election commission and the judiciary handed the conduct of an important aspect of democracy to a few slanted policemen and recalcitrant party supporters.
West Bengal may not be the only state where such electoral malpractices occur under the very eye of law. People’s protests against electoral fraud were seen in Belarus, Chad, Russia in 2021; Chile, Sudan in 2020. Today’s protests in Kolkata streets may not end and could grow into a serious headache for the ruling party.
The Hon’ble CM pinned a medal on the Kolkata Police that they are the best. Who can dare to differ?
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
