Left Front welcomes six-phase polls

“To ensure that elections are peaceful, free and fair … This is what we want as well”

Welcoming the decision of the Election Commission for the Assembly elections to be held in six phases in West Bengal, Biman Bose, chairman of the State Left Front Committee, said here on Tuesday that the Trinamool Congress was primarily responsible for West Bengal to be considered a disturbed zone.

“The Election Commission has decided that polls will be held in six phases to ensure that elections are peaceful, free and fair… This is what we want as well,” Mr. Bose said.

Doublespeak

However, Mr. Bose pointed out that the Trinamool, “which is primarily responsible for certain areas of the State to be considered disturbed,” is indulging in doublespeak. He said this when asked to comment on the Trinamool's reaction to the announcement. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has said that “the journey to our victory begins today.”

Trinamool blamed

“The Trinamool Congress is primarily responsible for the situation in Jangal Mahal [the Maoist-affected region of the State]. If they had not openly supported the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee, the democratic rights of the people would not have been snatched away from them, the peace in the region would not have been disturbed and so many people would not have been killed,” Mr. Bose said.

Mr. Bose indicated that the announcement of the list of candidates and the release of the election manifesto of the Left Front will be made on March 15.

At the February 13 rally in Kolkata “we have already given a clarion call to the people of West Bengal to vote for the eighth Left Front government,” he said.

He said the Left parties would initiate intensive campaigning from March 5, but it would be focussed on door-to-door, booth-level and small meetings to restrict the use of microphones since several school and college examinations were being conducted.

Between March 5 and April 8, the scope of the campaign will be widened with road processions, cycle rallies and other meetings, he added.

Mr. Bose also said that the announcement of the dates for the elections had vindicated the stand of the Left Front that had always maintained that the polls would be held as per schedule.

In an indirect reference to the Trinamool, Mr. Bose said: “Only those who do not have an iota of faith in democracy can show complete disregard for the term of an elected government.”

Ms. Banerjee had on several occasions and public forums assured her supporters that the elections would be held much ahead of the expiry of the term of the present government.

Racket alleged

Information about a huge racket regarding recruitment of Group D employees in the Railways had come to light, Mr. Bose said appealing to the youth of the State not to fall victim to it.

“Fake recruitment forms that are being distributed by supporters of the Trinamool Congress have come into our hands,” he claimed, alleging that a similar scam was in operation ahead of the 2010 civic polls in the State.