Bengal Panchayat Polls: Opposition Thrust on Corruption as TMC’s Key ‘Weak Point’ Gaining Traction

Kolkata: The thrust of the Left-Congress commitment to the electorate for the West Bengal panchayat elections 2023, voting for which takes place on Saturday, July 8, is on having ‘people’s panchayats’, which will shun corrupt practices and terror and intimidation tactics that have vitiated the atmosphere for grassroot development activity under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime. Siphoning of allocated funds is apparent in the affluence and lavish lifestyles of even gram panchayat post holders.

So, the Left-Congress alliance has promised to give top priority to the establishment of ‘people’s panchayats’ committed to improving rural infrastructure and by being accountable to the rural people.  

The ‘sankalp patra’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also talks of ending corruption with a firm hand. In addition, it proposes setting up skill development and training centres so that people do not have to migrate to other states for livelihood. Significantly, BJP leaders have gone beyond the printed words and promised voters that the party would scrutinise the inspection reports of teams of officials deputed by the Union rural development ministry to detect misuse of allocated funds for the 100 day-job scheme and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and lapses in execution.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar told NewsClick that where evidence of fund misuse is beyond doubt, the party will file FIRs (first information reports) and take other permissible steps to recover the misappropriated funds. Majumdar also confirmed his party’s emphasis on winning zilla parishads.

The campaign of TMC’s second-in-command, Abhishek Banerjee, suggests that the Opposition’s sustained targeting of the party on the issue of rampant corruption in the three-tier panchayat set-up has forced the party top brass to talk of stern action against those found corrupt.

Party supremo Mamata Banerjee, who had to restrict   herself to virtual mode of campaign because of an injury, has reminded voters that only TMC can implement the type of welfare schemes in vogue and, therefore, TMC should be their natural choice. Like her nephew, she too has warned of action against party members indulging in corruption.

Hence, the West Bengal panchayat election 2023, to a great extent, marks the Opposition’s success in establishing the merits of their demands before the courts – the Calcutta High Court and even the Supreme Court. Which simply means, the actions of the State Election Commission (SEC) and the state administration [at the behest of the political masters] to counter the Opposition’s suggestions have been rejected by the courts.

That explains why the Opposition this time round, in stark contrast to large-scale unopposed election in 2018, has been able to file a larger number of nominations despite obstructions and threats by TMC cadres.

The Opposition scored a major victory with the courts ordering deployment of the Centre’s forces even at the booth level. The reluctance of the state administration and SEC to deploy Central forces lost all force as the courts stipulated that the cost would be borne by New Delhi. There was thus no scope for the state government to plead financial inability to bear the cost. This, informed quarters argue, may well remain a precedent.

Governor C V Anand Bose’s directives and actions to prevent violence, including visits to places where people succumbed to violence, deserve mention. As usual, the Chief Minister has seen a ‘design’ in the Governor’s actions. Her party accused him of visiting places only where victims were associated with the Opposition parties. Bose’s moves have also invited some criticism from sections of the Opposition; the contention being the Governor was doing what he was not supposed to do. But, the Governor remains firm and has gone on record, saying he won’t “allow Holi of blood”.

All eyes are on July 8, the day when the rural electorate will exercise their franchise. Pre-poll violence has already claimed over 15 lives, the tally matching the number of deaths before voting in 2018, when the democratic exercise had gained infamy for violence and as high as 34% ‘unopposed’ victories of TMC nominees.

May be, going by the ‘mood’ and the possibility of sections of Muslims revisting their “automatic preference” for TMC, the party’s spokespersons in TV debates these days are seen admitting that what had happened in 2018 was wrong.

Left and Congress leaders working on the ground for the elections agree that some signs of people looking for a change are visible. Arnab Mitra, Malda district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), told NewsClick that the ever-increasing instances of corruption, which include demands for cut-money from direct benefit transfer, extortion and getting fake claims passed for payment [this had happened when ‘relief’ payments were made post-cyclone Amphan] have made people angry. People have been seeing that instead of creating durable rural assets with allocated funds, panchayat post-holders have been creating personal assets – acquiring Scorpios and building two-three-storyed houses.

Shrinking opportunities for earning livelihood have been forcing outbound migration in larger numbers. In the rail tragedy near Balasore in Odisha a few weeks back, the Coromondel Express passengers who lost their lives included several youths and mid-aged persons from Malda district, Mitra said.

According to Jamir Molla, Murshidabad district CPI(M) secretary, the change in people’s mood may also be ascribed to agriculture not remaining a paying proposition, as the price farmers ‘ultimately’ receive for their produce cannot sustain them for a whole year. That explains the increasing trend of working age people seeking better earning opportunities outside West Bengal. Malda and Murshidabad account for the largest chunk of outbound migrants.

As far as Muslims are concerned, the number of educated persons has been going up, thanks to the availability of an appreciable number of higher education institutions. But, educated Muslims are getting disenchanted as they see no employment opportunities. A sense is growing among them that their votes are taken for granted. What is more demoralising is when they find much less educated or unlettered panchayat members making hay while the sun shines. The ground for a rethink is building, Molla told NewsClick.

Hafiz Alam Sairani, vice-president of Pradesh Congress, is optimistic. He says if people can cast their votes in an atmosphere free of intimidation, the results should help the Opposition put up a better performance, compared with 2018.

Several zilla parishads may be won by the Opposition parties. If TMC leaders have been sincere in owning up their mistake in 2018, the leadership must ensure a free and fair panchayat election. The deployment of Centre’s forces in strength, as directed by courts, should make some difference to the situation, Sairani told NewsClick.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, in her virtual campaign, sought to convey that victorious Opposition nominees would eventually joint her party.  This, political analysts contend, perhaps shows that the Chief Minister is factoring in the chances of the Opposition faring better, given the possibility of some dent in TMC’s Muslim support base.   

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Kolkata.