Final phase of elections in WB a challenge

Will the Maoist allow peaceful vote in the final phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal? With only one day to go, this is a major question that Election Commission is facing at this point.

In the final phase of elections, which are going to take place on May 10 in 14 constituencies of Jangle Mahal, 26,57,436 voters will decide the fate of 97 candidates. Of the constituencies going to polls, the highest number of seven seats are in West Midnapore district, followed by four in Purulia and three in Bankura. Prominent candidates in this phase are CPM's Susanta Ghosh contesting from Garbeta and his main rival Hema Chowbey of the Congress.

With most of the constituencies having a record of Maoist activities during recent days, the Election Commission would have to be especially vigilant about the modus-operandi they follow for the smooth functioning of elections. In a bid to ensure peaceful elections, the Election Commission is planning to deploy over 65,000 police personnel and 3 surveillance helicopters to maintain law and order. 

In the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal, Maoists are against the participation in democratic franchisee and have called for the boycott of votes. The call for election boycott was given by Aranya, secretary of CPI (Maoist) Kolkata town committee. Pertinent to mention that the CPM cadre, also known as Harmad, which is allegedly responsible for killings of hundreds of innocent villagers, still have over 35 bases in the jungles of their domination.

On last Friday, the fugitive CPI (Maoist) leader Koteshwar Rao, a. k. a. Kishenji, in an interview with a national TV channel, said, “People do vote according to their own choice. But we would remind them not to vote for CPM, which is social fascist.” Replying to another question, he termed Chhatradhar Mahato as the "real leader of the oppressed people of Jungle Mahal”.