ELECTION

Somen Mitra for peaceful election

 

COOCH BEHAR, May 15: Observing the attendance of people in election meetings a senior Congress leader Mr Somen Mitra believes that the Congress may yield a good result in the panchayat election. But it may be different if the polling is done as it was held on 14 May. Unleashing large-scale violence and atrocities the CPI-M may try to harvest the result in their favour, he opined.

 

Mr Mitra termed the previous two phases of rural poll in this state as farce. Recalling that in 2006 a peaceful election was held under supervision of the Central Election Commission he questioned why the State Election Commission should not hold that kind of election without any bloodshed. Admitting its failure in conducting peaceful elections and the Basanti violence the Left Front run state government should step down from power if they still have any ethics, the Congress leader demanded.

 

Mr Mitra said the Left Front came to power as an alliance of several parties but as there is no unity among the partners the government should resign from power. At Basanti the RSP and the CPI-M shouting slogans against each other and in Cooch Behar the Forward Bloc and the CPI-M are contesting one against other. Then where is the Left Front, he questioned.

 

Criticising the Forward Bloc leadership the Congress leader said that after the 5 February incident of Dinhata the FB leaders shouted many slogans against the CPI-M. But even now they are united with the CPI-M in the government and here they are talking against the big brother. This is nothing but mere treachery to the people, he commented.

 

Replying a question the veteran Congress leader said clamping of proposed Presidential rule in West Bengal is a constitutional matter but the Centre has a responsibility to look after the happenings that are going on in this state. "We will draw the Centre's attention to the matter", he said. []

 

PHOTO : Congress leader Mr Somen Mitra talks with reporters in Cooch Behar on Thursday.