West Bengal Panchayat Election Voting 2023 Highlights: 12 deaths reported on West Bengal panchayat poll day; BJP asks for President's rule
West Bengal Panchayat Election Voting 2023 Highlights: All parties in West Bengal leveled allegations against each other for the violence that claimed the lives of 15 people in Panchayat Election-related violence that erupted on the day of polling on Saturday (July 8). Just a day before, the opposition BJP had called for President's Rule in the state. The party, which blamed the State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha for poll related deaths, shot off a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding his "intervention" in restoring democracy in the state alleging democracy has been "murdered in the state by the ruling party as the security forces played the role of an audience."
The ruling Trinamool Congress, which lost eight of its supporters to poll violence, however, accused the opposition of orchestrating violence and criticised the central forces for their failure to protect the voters.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said, “A free and fair election under the state administration is a mirage. It is only possible only if elections are held under President's Rule or Article 355,” he told reporters.
Zee Biz will bring you Live Updates of the election-related events. Stay tuned with us to get more updates related to the West Bengal Panchayat Election.
West Bengal Panchayat Election Voting 2023 Highlights: All parties in West Bengal leveled allegations against each other for the violence that claimed the lives of 15 people in Panchayat Election-related violence that erupted on the day of polling on Saturday (July 8). Just a day before, the opposition BJP had called for President's Rule in the state. The party, which blamed the State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha for poll related deaths, shot off a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding his "intervention" in restoring democracy in the state alleging democracy has been "murdered in the state by the ruling party as the security forces played the role of an audience."
The ruling Trinamool Congress, which lost eight of its supporters to poll violence, however, accused the opposition of orchestrating violence and criticised the central forces for their failure to protect the voters.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said, “A free and fair election under the state administration is a mirage. It is only possible only if elections are held under President's Rule or Article 355,” he told reporters.
Zee Biz will bring you Live Updates of the election-related events. Stay tuned with us to get more updates related to the West Bengal Panchayat Election.
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West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: BJP asks for President's rule after poll violence
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said, “A free and fair election under the state administration is a mirage. It is only possible only if elections are held under President's Rule or Article 355,” he told reporters.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: BJP says 15 political deaths occured on polling day
In the letter signed by BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar it was claimed "15 political deaths occurred just on the day of poll," as booth capturing, rigging and fake voting were seen across all the districts."
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: BJP demands election commissioner's resignation
BJP blamed the State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha for poll related deaths, shot off a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding his "intervention" in restoring democracy in the state alleging democracy has been "murdered in the state by the ruling party as the security forces played the role of an audience."
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: Nearly 30 deaths reported since Panchayat Elections announced
Since the day the polls were announced on June 8, violence was reported in various parts of the state, leading to the death of nearly 30 people, including a dozen on the day of polling. The 2003 panchayat polls gained notoriety for its death toll of 76, with more than 40 killed on the day of the elections. The 2013 rural polls, held under the supervision of central forces, and the 2018 elections recorded fatality figures of 39 and 30, respectively.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: TMC accuses opposition of orchestrating violence
"A narrative is being spun by the opposition parties with the help of the Governor (CV Ananda Bose) and a section of the media that elections in West Bengal are always violent. There have been few instances of violence, but if you compare with previous elections, you will see that the incidents of violence and deaths have gone down drastically," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: TMC accuses opposition of orchestrating violence
Of the 22 districts that went to rural polls, no incident of violence was reported in 16. Of the nearly 61,000 booths, incidents were reported in only 60. So, one can ascertain the ratio of violence in comparison with the areas where polls were held peacefully. It is lesser than one per cent," another minister, Shashi Panja, said.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: CPI (M) contesting poll on 747 zilla parishad seats
The CPI(M) is fighting 747 zilla parishad seats, 6,752 panchayat samiti seats and 35,411 gram panchayat seats. The Congress is contesting 644 zilla parishad seats, 2,197 panchayat samiti seats and 11,774 gram panchayat seats.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: TMC is contesting on 928 seats in zilla parishads
The ruling TMC is contesting all the 928 seats in zilla parishads, 9,419 seats in panchayat samitis and 61,591 seats in gram panchayats. The BJP has fielded candidates in 897 zilla parishad seats, 7,032 panchayat samiti seats and 38,475 seats in gram panchayats.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: West Bengal Panchayat polls on 63,229 gram panchayat seats
In West Bengal, there are 63,229 gram panchayat seats and 9,730 panchayat samiti seats in 22 districts, while 928 zilla parishad seats in 20 districts as Darjeeling and Kalimpong have a two-tier system with Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and Siliguri Sub-divisional Council at the top.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: 50.52% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in West Bengal poll
Officials said that the polling began at 7 am in 73,887 seats in the rural areas of the state with 5.67 crore people deciding the fate of around 2.06 lakh candidates. Till 3 pm, 50.52 per cent voter turnout was recorded.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: 12 deaths reported in West Bengal Panchayat elections
Among those killed were six TMC members, and one worker each of the BJP, CPI(M), Congress and ISF, and another person whose political identity could not be known, they said. Besides violent clashes that injured several people, ballot boxes were destroyed in several parts of the state, they added.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: 12 deaths reported in West Bengal Panchayat elections
Official said that 12 people had been killed in election-related violence in West Bengal since midnight as voting was underway for the three-tier panchayat polls in the state on Saturday.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: 11 people killed in poll-related incidents in West Bengal, say officials
Among those killed were six TMC members, and one worker each of the BJP, CPI(M), Congress and ISF, and another person whose political identity could not be known, they said.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: 11 people killed in poll-related incidents in West Bengal, say officials
Eleven people were killed in election-related violence in West Bengal since midnight as voting was underway for the three-tier panchayat polls in the state on Saturday, officials said.
West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023 LIVE: Panchayat Elections see 36.36% voting till 1 PM
As per the election commission of West Bengal, a total of 36.36 per cent voting was recorded in the West bengal Panchayat Elections till 1 PM.