This refers to the report, “Bengal voters intimidated’ (May 1). Free and fair elections with adequate arrangement of the safety of the voters and the polling booths are essential in a democracy.
In West Bengal, that does not seem to have happened this time around. The absence of paramilitary forces in adequate numbers meant that the ruling party's muscle-power dominated people’s opinion, freedom and fundamental rights. Though the Election Commission had ensured live video-camera-based connection from the booths to the EC's headquarters in Delhi and suitable arrangement of safety in all the sensitive booths, especially in Birbhum where lawlessness is practised by some ruling party leaders, the arrangements seemed to have failed completely.
West Bengal witnesses an anarchic situation where leaders of the Opposition are harassed through false cases. Even the BJP, once the ruling Trinamool Congress's ally, is opposed and harassed by raw force. The Election Commission must take this matter seriously.