The Bengal civil society which had once rejected the Marxists to turn out in large numbers on street for Mamata Banerjee playing the vital catalyst to mark the end of the left era on Wednesday got the history to repeat itself even as they registered a strong protest against the ruling Trinamool Congress for “perpetrating immeasurable violence” during filing of nomination in the first phase of the Panchayat elections.
The nomination dispute has moved to Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court with an indecisive State Election Commission timidly submitting itself to the diktats of the ruling party barons the opposition parties have accused.
In a development that surprised many, prominent faces known for their proximity to the Chief Minister told the media at the Kolkata Press Club that the lust for “absolute power” had literally corrupted the present dispensation absolutely.
In a hard-hitting statement theatre personality Bibhash Chakrabarty said, “We had wanted a political change in the State. But that change doesn’t seem to have materialized. The electoral violence we have been witnessing for the last a few elections crossed all limits this time round. This is not the change that the people of the State had desired.”
Educationist Miratun Nahar wondered “is the victory that they (ruling party) are bragging about is the real victory. Is democracy in Bengal has not been thoroughly crippled.”
To ensure an opposition less Government could not be and should not be the only objective of a political party, they said.
“The development Mamata Banerjee is talking about seems to be coming down on the opposition in the shape of batons. It is development beating down and causing bloodshed at will,” said singer Pallav Kirtaniya.
Incidentally senior State Minister and Mamata Banerjee’s Nanidgram spearhead Subhendu Adhikary recently announced Rs 5-crore reward for any person who would ensure an opposition-free Panchayat board.
A few days ago thousands of people had turned out in Kolkata in a large rally led by veteran Bangla poets like Shankha Ghosh.